The face of the cashier appeared troubled.  “I think, sir,” she said, “that if you leave the money, Mr Candy will do all he can to discover what you wish to know, and that it will not be very long before you have the address of the person you are seeking.”

“Do you really think he has any clew?” asked Lawrence.

This question did not seem to please the cashier, and she answered gravely, though without any show of resentment:  “That is a strange question after I advised you to leave the money.”

Lawrence had a kind heart, and it reproached him.  “I beg your pardon,” said he.  “I will leave the money with you, but I desire that Mr Candy will, in his next communication, give me all the information he has acquired up to the moment of writing, and then I will decide whether it is worth while to go on with the matter, or not.”

He, thereupon, took out his pocket-book and handed three dollars to the cashier, who, with an air of deliberate thoughtfulness, smoothed out the two notes, and placed them in her drawer.  Then she said:  “If you will leave your address, sir, I will see that you receive your information as soon as possible.  That will be better than for you to call, because I can’t tell you when to come.”

“Very well,” said Lawrence, “and I will be obliged to you if you will hurry up Mr Candy as much as you can.”  And, handing her his card, he went his way.

The way of Lawrence Croft was generally a very pleasant one, for the fortunate conditions of his life made it possible for him to go around most of the rough places which might lie in it.  His family was an old one, and a good one, but there was very little of it left, and of its scattered remnants he was the most important member.  But although circumstances did not force him to do anything in particular, he liked to believe that he was a rigid master to himself, and whatever he did was always done with a purpose.  When he travelled he had an object in view; when he stayed at home the case was the same.

His present purpose was the most serious one of his life:  he wished to marry; and, if she should prove to be the proper person, he wished to marry Roberta March; and as a preliminary step in the carrying out of his purpose, he wanted very much to know what sort of man Miss March had once been willing to marry.

When five days had elapsed without his hearing from Mr Candy, he became impatient and betook himself to the green door with the tin sign.  Entering, he found only the boy and the cashier.  Addressing himself to the latter, he asked if anything had been done in his business.

“Yes, sir,” she said, “and I hoped Mr Candy would write you a letter this morning before he went out, but he didn’t.  He traced the gentleman to Niagara Falls, and I think you’ll hear something very soon.”

“If inquiries have to be carried on outside of the city,” said Lawrence, “they will probably cost a good deal, and come to nothing.  I think I will drop the matter as far as Mr Candy is concerned.”