These last words, pronounced with an emphasis of deep significance, evidently aroused an intense curiosity in the breast of Gaspar Manuel. "Secret Police Department!" he echoed, his dark eyes flashing with renewed luster. "Even so," dryly responded Ezekiel, "for the Van Huyden estate is not a secret society like the Jesuits, nor a corporation like Trinity Church, nor a government like the United States or Great Britain, but it is a _Government based upon Money and controlled by the Iron Will of One Man_. A Government based, I repeat it, upon incredible wealth, and absolutely in the control of one man, who for twenty-one years, has devoted his whole soul to the administration of the singular and awful Power intrusted to him. Such a Government needs a Secret Police, ramifying through all the arteries of the social world--and you now stand in the office of that wide-spread and almost ubiquitous Police." "A secret society may be disturbed by internal dissensions," said Gaspar Manuel, as though thinking aloud; "a government may be crippled by party jealousies, but this Government of the Van Huyden Estate, based upon money, is simply controlled by one man, who knows his mind, who sees his way clear, whose will is deepened by a conviction--perhaps a fanaticism--as unrelenting as death itself. Ah! the influence of such a Government is fearful, nay horrible, to contemplate!" "It is, it is indeed," said Ezekiel, in a low and mournful voice; "and the responsibility of Dr. Martin Fulmer, most solemn and terrible." "But what would become of this Government, were Dr. Martin Fulmer to die before the 25th of December?" asked Gaspar Manuel. "But Dr. Martin Fulmer will not die before the 25th of December," responded Ezekiel, in a tone of singular emphasis. "And this immense power will drop from his grasp on the 10th of December," continued Gaspar Manuel. "Who will succeed him? Into whose hands will it fall--this incredible power?" "Your question will be answered on the 25th of December," slowly responded Ezekiel, and motioning to Gaspar, he retraced his steps through the six vaults or apartments, and presently stood in the first of the seven vaults, where we first beheld him. He seated himself in the huge arm-chair, while Gaspar Manuel, resuming his cloak and sombrero, stood ready to depart. "Now that I have given you some revelation of the immense resources of the Van Huyden Estate," said Ezekiel, as he attentively surveyed that cloaked and motionless figure; "you will, I presume, have no objection to converse with me in regard to the lands on the Pacific, as freely and as fully, as though you stood face to face with Dr. Martin Fulmer?" "Pardon," said Gaspar Manuel with a low brow, "the facts in my possession are for the ear of Dr. Martin Fulmer, and for his ear alone." "Very well, sir," replied Ezekiel, in a tone of impatience, "as you please. Call here to-morrow at--" he named the hour--"and you shall see Dr. Martin Fulmer."