Lawrence reflected for a moment, and then he said:  “What are your terms and arrangements for carrying on an affair of this kind?”

“They are very simple and moderate,” said the man, taking a wallet from his pocket.  “There is one of our printed slips, which we show but don’t give away.  To become a client all you have to do is to send fifteen dollars to the office, or to pay it to me, if you think no time should be lost.  That will entitle you to protection for a year.  After that we make the nominal charge of five dollars for each letter sent you, giving you information of what is going on against you.  For extra services, such as mailing letters from distant points, of course there will be extra charges.”

Lawrence glanced over the printed slip, which contained information very similar to that the man had given him, and as he did so, he came to the conclusion that there would be nothing dishonest in allowing the fellow to continue in his mistake, and to endeavor to find out what mischief was about to be done in his, Lawrence’s, name, and under his apparent authority.  “I will become a subscriber,” said he, taking out his pocket-book, “and request that you give me all the information you possess, here and immediately.”

“That is the best thing to do,” said the man, taking the money, “for, in my opinion, no time is to be lost.  I’ll give you a receipt for this.”

“Don’t trouble yourself about that,” said Lawrence; “let me have your information.”

“You’re very right,” said the man.  “It’s a great deal better not to have your name on anything.  And now for the points.  Candy, who has charge of Croft’s job, is going more into the detective business than he used to be, and we have information that he has lately taken up your affair in good, solid earnest.  He found out that Croft had put somebody else on your track, without regularly taking the business out of his hands, and this made him mad; and I don’t wonder at it, for Croft, as I understand, has plenty of money, and if he concluded to throw Candy over, he ought to have done it fair and square, and paid him something handsome in consideration for having taken the job away.  But he didn’t do anything of the kind, and Candy considers himself still in his employment, and vows he’s going to get hold of you before the other party does; so, you see, you have got two sets of detectives after you, and they’ll be mighty sharp, for the first one that gets you will make the money.”

“Where are Candy’s detectives now?” asked Lawrence.

“That I can’t tell you positively, as I am so far from our New York office, to which all information comes.  But now that you are a subscriber, I’ll communicate with head-quarters and the necessary points will be immediately sent to you by telegraph, if necessary.  All that you have to do is to stay here until you hear from us.”

“From the way you spoke just now,” said Lawrence, “I supposed the detective would be here to-day or to-morrow.”