“I hope it will have the same effect on me, sir.”

“I hope so, and I think so.  What sort of a boy is this son of Mr. Duncan?”

“If his father were not a rich man, I think he would be more agreeable.  As it is, he seems to have a high idea of his own importance.”

“So his father has the reputation of being a rich man, eh?”

“Yes, sir.  We have always considered him so.”

“Without knowing much about it?”

“Yes, sir; we judged from his style of living, and from his being president of a bank.”

“That amounts to nothing.  His salary as president is only moderate.”

“I am sorry you should have met with such a loss, Mr. Armstrong.”

“So am I, but it won’t cripple me.  Still, a man doesn’t like to lose twenty-five thousand dollars and over.”

“Was there as much as that in the box, sir?” asked Luke, in surprise.

“Yes, I don’t know why I need make any secret of it.  There were twenty-five thousand dollars in government bonds, and these, at present rates, are worth in the neighborhood of thirty thousand dollars.”

“That seems to me a great deal of money,” said Luke.

“It is, but I can spare it without any diminution of comfort.  I don’t feel, however, like pocketing the loss without making a strong effort to recover the money.  I didn’t expect to meet immediately upon arrival the only person hitherto suspected of accomplishing the robbery.”

He smiled as he spoke, and Luke saw that, so far as Mr. Armstrong was concerned, he had no occasion to feel himself under suspicion.

“Are you intending to remain long in Groveton, Mr. Armstrong?” he asked.

“I can’t say.  I have to see Mr. Duncan about the tin box, and concoct some schemes looking to the discovery of the person or persons concerned in its theft.  Have there been any suspicious persons in the village during the last few weeks?”

“Not that I know of, sir.”

“What is the character of the men employed in the bank, the cashier and teller?”

“They seem to be very steady young men, sir.  I don’t think they have been suspected.”

“The most dangerous enemies are those who are inside, for they have exceptional opportunities for wrongdoing.  Moreover, they have the best chance to cover up their tracks.”

“I don’t think there is anything to charge against Mr. Roper and Mr. Barclay.  They are both young married men, and live in a quiet way.”

“Never speculate in Wall Street, eh?  One of the soberest, steadiest bank cashiers I ever knew, who lived plainly and frugally, and was considered by all to be a model man, wrecked the man he was connected with—­a small country banker—­and is now serving a term in State’s prison.  The cause was Wall Street speculation.  This is more dangerous even than extravagant habits of living.”

A part of this conversation took place on the platform of the railroad-station, and a part while they were walking in the direction of the hotel.  They had now reached the village inn, and, bidding our hero good morning, Mr. Armstrong entered, and registered his name.