Why I looked inside it I don't know. I had some sort of wild idea
that I must find out who he was. Mind you, though, I should have
given the alarm at once, but there wasn't a soul in the street.
There was a man lurking in the entry and I chased him, unsuccessfully.
When I came back, the body was still there and the street empty. I
looked inside that pocket-book, which would have been in the
possession of his murderer but for my unexpected appearance. I saw
the notes there. Once more I went out into the street. I gave no
alarm, - I am not attempting to explain why. I was like a man made
suddenly mad. I went back to my office and shut myself in."

Bellamy pointed to the glasses silently. The waiter came forward
and refilled them.

"Bellamy," Laverick continued, "your career and mine lie far apart,
and yet, at their backbone, as there is at the backbone of every
man's life, there must be something of the same sort of ambition.
My grandfather lived and died a member of the Stock Exchange, honored
and well thought of. My father followed in his footsteps. I, too,
was there. Without becoming wealthy, the name I bear has become
known and respected. Failure, whatever one may say, means a broken
life and a broken honor. I sat in my office and I knew that the use
of those notes for a few days might save me from disgrace, might
keep the name, which my father and grandfather had guarded so
jealously, free from shame. I would have paid any price for the use
of them. I would have paid with my life, if that had been possible.
Think of the risk I ran - the danger I am now in. I deposited those
notes on the morrow as security at my bank, and I met all my
engagements. The crisis is over! Those notes are in a safe deposit
vault in Chancery Lane! I only wish to Heaven that I could find