to find the address of this Mr Rivière?"

Coulter was the financier's confidential man. He had full power to go
over his employer's desk except for certain drawers labelled "Private,"
and he did so now.

When he came back from the search, he had an envelope in his hand
addressed "Lars Larssen, Esq."

"All I could find was this envelope for you, sir. There seems to be no
record of Mr Rivière's address."

The shipowner slit open the letter and read it with a countenance that
gave no clue whatever to what was passing in his mind.

"My dear Larssen," it ran, "I estimate your expenses on the Hudson Bay
scheme at roughly £20,000, and I enclose cheque for that amount. If this
is right, please let me have a formal receipt and quittance. I want you
to understand that my decision on the matter is final. I regret that I
am obliged to back out at the last moment, but no doubt you will be able
to proceed without my help."

The letter was in handwriting, and had not been press-copied. Larssen
noted that point at once with satisfaction. But the letter itself gave
him uneasiness. It explained nothing of Matheson's motives. From the
'phone conversation with Olive, it was clear that she had no suspicion
that her husband wanted to withdraw from the Hudson Bay deal. In fact,
she had asked anxiously if anything had gone wrong with the scheme. Sir
Francis Letchmere might of course be closer in Matheson's business
confidence, and that was one of the reasons for travelling to Monte