"I may be, or I may not be," returned Manuel, in a haughty and offensive tone. "In any case it is not for common people to criticise the private affairs of their superiors;" and with a scathing glance the Captain strode out of the room. "I owe you one for that, my good sir," thought Torry, rather mortified, the more so as Vass was smiling. However, his annoyance did not betray itself in his face, which was as suave and bland as ever. He turned sharply on the still smiling secretary. "Is Mr. Leighbourne in his office?" he asked. "Both of the Mr. Leighbournes are here. Which one do you inquire for?" "The father. I wish to see him." "What about?" stammered Vass nervously. "That is my business. Go and ask if I can see him." Vass did not like to be ordered about in this fashion, especially by an inferior, but as he was secretly afraid of the detective, he obeyed him without argument. The result was that in five minutes Torry found himself alone with Mr. Leighbourne, senior. "You wish to see me, I believe," said the banker. Torry looked at the portly old man, who resembled so closely his son, Frederick, and replied with all promptness. "Yes; I desire to ask you a few questions." "You are the detective charged with the discovery of my late partner's murderer?" "I am, and to assist me in doing so I wish to question you." "By all means," replied Leighbourne graciously. "I am most anxious that the scoundrel should be caught and punished. He killed a good man." "Ah! Do you consider that the late Mr. Grent was a good man, sir?" "Most certainly; an excellent and upright gentleman." "Had he no faults?" "We all have faults," said Leighbourne enigmatically. "But are these the questions you wish to put to me?" "Some of them. If you will permit me to conduct this examination in my own way I may arrive at some result." "Very well, sir," said the banker with some stiffness, "I am at your service." "Then tell me what you consider was Mr. Grent's gravest fault?" "To my mind he was too speculative." "Aha; he speculated!" "Yes, and not in the safest way." "He lost money?" Leighbourne hesitated. "Yes he lost money," was his reply; "but I do not----" "In fact," interrupted Torry sharply, "if Mr. Grent had lived he would have been a ruined man." "How dare you say so?" cried Leighbourne, much agitated. "Because it is true." "I do not say so." "Oh, I can guess the truth from what you don't say. Mr. Grent was ruined, and, seeing no way of recovering himself in England resolved to fly. In some way--I don't know how--he became possessed of ten thousand pounds which was in his private safe, and was prepared to fly with Miss Hargone to South America, when he was killed. Now, what do you say?" "Say?" echoed Leighbourne, "that every word you have uttered is false." CHAPTER XX THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS