Even Chalk wouldn't go on a roving commission to dig over all the islands in the South Pacific." "I don't see anything to laugh at," said the girl; "my uncle fully intended to burn it.

He was terribly upset when he found that it had disappeared." "Disappeared ?" cried Mr.Tredgold, in accents of unmistakable amazement.
"Why, wasn't it burnt after all?
The captain said it was." "He was going to burn it," repeated the girl, watching him; "but somebody took it from the bureau." "Took it?
When ?" inquired the other, as the business of the yachting cruise began to appear before him in its true colours.
"The afternoon you were here waiting for him," said Miss Drewitt.
"Afternoon ?" repeated Mr.Tredgold, blankly.

"The afternoon I was----" He drew himself up and eyed her angrily.

"Do you mean to say that you think I took the thing ?" "It doesn't matter what I think," said the girl.

"I suppose you won't deny that your friends have got it ?" "Yes; but you said that it was the afternoon I was here," persisted the other.
Miss Drewitt eyed him indignantly.