"I had a little talk with them on the Tuesday following the house-party at Courtney's, and they decided to have me look after the matter instead.

By the way, I hunted for you everywhere on the day before the first payment was due, to tell you that the Wobbleses preferred to have the two and a half million paid all in one sum to-day; but since you were not in I didn't trouble to leave you a note.
Very few men need to be told not to pay out money." "Do you mean to tell me that Mr.Birchard never has represented the Wobbles family in this matter ?" Johnny managed to ask.
"Certainly not," answered Gresham, widening his eyes.
"I have his signed authorization to act for them in the matter," declared Johnny, remembering that circumstance with happy relief.
"You have ?" inquired Gresham with great apparent surprise.

"Will you allow me to look at the paper ?" Johnny showed it to him triumphantly, but Gresham read it with a smile of contempt.
"I was correct in my suspicions of Birchard," he stated.

"This document is a forgery.

I hope you did not pay him any money on the strength of it." Silently Johnny laid before him Birchard's receipt, and a second later as he saw the gleam of gratification in Gresham's eyes was sorry that he had done so.
"I am afraid that you have been swindled," was Gresham's altogether too sympathetic comment.