Part 10 (1/2)

Lars Larssen turned to the young clerk with a questioning look. ”It was the first time I had ever seen him, sir,” said the clerk. ”He came in and asked quite naturally for Mr Matheson. There was an astonis.h.i.+ng likeness between them, but that was explained at once when he told me they were half-brothers.”

”An astonis.h.i.+ng likeness?”

”When I say a likeness, sir, I mean of course in a general way. Mr Riviere is younger and different in many ways.”

”Describe him.”

The clerk did so to the best of his ability.

”Did he leave an address?”

”No, sir.”

”Or a message?”

”No.”

”Or say where he was going?”

The clerk could offer no clue to the whereabouts or intentions of John Riviere. Repeated questioning added little to the meagre information already given.

”Mr Matheson has not been at the office to-day or yesterday. Have you seen anything of him?” asked Coulter of the s.h.i.+powner.

”I know. He's away to Canada.”

”To Canada!”

”Yes. We discussed the matter the night I was here. Hasn't he written you?”

”We've heard nothing.”

”Reckon you will to-day.... Say, couldn't you look in Mr Matheson's desk to find the address of this Mr Riviere?”

Coulter was the financier's confidential man. He had full power to go over his employer's desk except for certain drawers labelled ”Private,”

and he did so now.

When he came back from the search, he had an envelope in his hand addressed ”Lars Larssen, Esq.”

”All I could find was this envelope for you, sir. There seems to be no record of Mr Riviere's address.”

The s.h.i.+powner slit open the letter and read it with a countenance that gave no clue whatever to what was pa.s.sing in his mind.

”My dear Larssen,” it ran, ”I estimate your expenses on the Hudson Bay scheme at roughly 20,000, and I enclose cheque for that amount. If this is right, please let me have a formal receipt and quittance. I want you to understand that my decision on the matter is final. I regret that I am obliged to back out at the last moment, but no doubt you will be able to proceed without my help.”

The letter was in handwriting, and had not been press-copied. Larssen noted that point at once with satisfaction. But the letter itself gave him uneasiness. It explained nothing of Matheson's motives. From the 'phone conversation with Olive, it was clear that she had no suspicion that her husband wanted to withdraw from the Hudson Bay deal. In fact, she had asked anxiously if anything had gone wrong with the scheme. Sir Francis Letchmere might of course be closer in Matheson's business confidence, and that was one of the reasons for travelling to Monte Carlo and talking to him face to face.

But with his keen intuitive sense, Lars Larssen felt that the explanation was in some way connected with this mysterious John Riviere.

It was imperative to get in touch with the man.