was as poor a pedestrian as she seemed to imagine as he should not like
to lose any of his things; and he added that in his opinion Vaughan
ought to be starting for Hillsborough at once.

"Pooh," said that gentleman, "I can't go with the market in this
condition,--would lose more than the whole house is worth."

"You would go duck-shooting in a minute," said Holland, "and this would
be a good deal better sport."

Mr. Vaughan ignored this remark. "The thing to do," he said, "is to
offer a reward, a big enough reward to attract some first-class
detective."

"All right," said Geoffrey readily, "I'll join you. Those other fellows
ought to be willing to put up a thousand apiece,--that will be five
thousand. Is that enough? We can have it in the papers to-morrow. What
shall I say? Five thousand dollars reward will be paid for information
leading to the conviction--and so on. I'll go and telephone now," and
with a promptness which surprised Mr. Vaughan, he was gone.

When he came back his sister was in her place and they were all
discussing the burglary with interest. Mrs. May, who was somewhat older
than her brother, had some of the more agreeable qualities of a gossip,
that is to say she had imagination and a good memory for detail.

"For my part," she was saying, "I have the greatest respect and
admiration for him. Do you know he could not find anything worth taking
at the Wilsons',--after all his trouble. I have often sat in that
drawing-room myself, and wondered if they should offer me anything in it