Page:Guy Boothby--A Bid for Fortune.djvu/251

Rh drove off there and then to his bank, while I went down to the harbour, arranged about a boat, and having done so went up to the town, where I purchased a false beard, an old dugnaree suit, such as a man loafing about the harbour might wear, and an old slouch hat of villainous appearance. By the time I got back to the house Mr. Wetherell had returned. With great delight he conducted me to his study, and, opening his safe, showed me a number of canvas bags, on each of which was printed 1000.

"But surely there are not 100,000 there?"

"No," said the old gentleman with a chuckle.

"There is only the counterfeit of 50,000 there; for the rest I propose to show them these."

So saying he dived his hand into a drawer and produced a sheaf of crisp bank-notes.

"There these are the notes for the balance of the amount."

"But you surely are not going to pay? I thought we were going to try to catch them without letting any money pass."

"So we are; do not be afraid. If you glance at these notes you will see that they are only dummies, every one of them. They are for me to exhibit to the man in the boat; in the dark they'll pass muster, never fear."

"Very good indeed," I said with a laugh. "By the time they are examined properly we shall have the police at hand ready to capture him."

"I believe we shall," the old gentleman cried, rubbing his hands with delight "I believe we shall. And a nice example we'll make of the rascals. Nikola thinks he can beat me; I'll show him how mistaken he is!"