William then slowly and concisely detailed the various points upon which
he founded his suspicions. The fact that Eugene Pearson had been seen in
intimate conversation with the suspected man, his presence at the bank
on the afternoon of the robbery, his actions, cowardly at best, when the
assault was made upon the helpless girl, his peculiar statements since,
and then the manner of his release by the aid of the ten-cent silver
piece. Taking a coin from his pocket, he requested Mr. Silby to attempt
the feat upon the slight lock upon the office door, which he tried, and
though he labored strenuously, he was unable to move it. He also
informed him that Manning had attempted the same thing upon the lock of
the vault door, and that he could not budge a screw. All these facts he
pointed out to the old gentleman as strong proofs of the young man's
guilt.

Mr. Silby sat during this recital with a dazed and stricken look upon
his face, and when William had finished, he sat for a time in speechless
amazement. Recovering himself at length, he said:

"Mr. Pinkerton, this may all prove to be true; but at present, you must
excuse me, I cannot believe it--it is too terrible."

True and trustful old man! he could not be brought to believe that one
so dearly loved and highly trusted could prove so base and undeserving.

"Now, Mr. Silby," said William, "I have only this to ask--I may be
wrong, or I may be right; but until definite results are achieved, I
must request you to keep this matter a profound secret, and to keep a
close watch upon young Pearson without exciting his suspicion; will you
do this?"