decided on the spur of the moment what course I should take. It seemed
to be the only one, and that was to embark in the same train and stick
close to my man."

"You informed your superiors, I suppose?"

"Pardon me, monsieur," said the Italian blandly to the Chief, who asked
the question, "but have you any right to inquire into my conduct towards
my superiors? In all that affects the murder I am at your orders, but in
this other matter it is between me and them."

"Ta, ta, ta! They will tell us if you will not. And you had better be
careful, lest you obstruct justice. Speak out, sir, and beware. What did
you intend to do?"

"To act according to circumstances. If my suspicions were confirmed--"

"What suspicions?"

"Why--that this banker was carrying off any large sum in cash, notes,
securities, as in effect he was."

"Ah! You know that? How?"

"By my own eyes. I looked into his compartment once and saw him in the
act of counting them over, a great quantity, in fact--"

Again the officials looked at each other significantly. They had got at
last to a motive for the crime.