The officials at the bank seemed surprised at the youth of the messenger, but Grit felt at liberty to explain why he was selected as a substitute for the regular messenger.
Leaving our hero for a time, we go back to Chester to speak of other characters in our story.
Ephraim Carver, the bank messenger, went to the bank at the hour of opening to receive the package of bonds which he expected to convey to Boston. He had no suspicion that his negotiations3 of a previous evening had been overheard and reported to the president. He felt somewhat nervous, it is true, for he[Pg 206] felt that a few hours would make him a rich man. Then the risk involved, though he did not consider it to be great, was yet sufficient to excite him.
He was admitted into the president's room, as usual.
Mr. Graves was already in his office, but his manner was his ordinary one, and the messenger did not dream that the quiet official read him through and through and understood him thoroughly4.
"You know, I suppose, Mr. Carver," said President Graves, "that you are to go to Boston by the next train."
"Yes, sir."
"The packet you will carry is of unusual value, and requires an unusual degree of care and caution."
"Yes, sir."
"It contains thirty thousand dollars in government bonds," said the president, laying his hand on the prepared packet, which was in the usual form. "That is a fortune in itself," he added, closely scrutinizing5 the face of the messenger. He thought he detected a transient gleam of exultation6 in the eyes of the bank messenger.
"Of course," he proceeded, "if it were known that you carried a packet of such[Pg 207] value, there would be great danger of your being robbed. Indeed, you might be in some personal danger."
"Yes, sir."
"But as it is only known to you and the officers of the bank, there is no special danger. Still, I advise you to be more than usually vigilant7, on account of the value of your charge."
"Oh, yes, sir, I shall take good care of it," answered Carver, reaching out his hand for the packet.
"Let me see, how long have you been in the employ of the bank?" asked the president.
"Nearly three years, sir."
"You have found it a light, easy position, have you not?"
"Yes, sir, though, if you will allow me to say so, the salary is small."
"True; but the expenses of living in Chester are small, also. However, we will not discuss that question now. Possibly at the end of the year, if they continue satisfied with you, the directors may increase your salary slightly. There cannot be a large increase."
"I may not need an increase then," thought Carver. "With five thousand dollars to fall back upon, I shall feel independent."
"You will report to me when you return,"[Pg 208] said Mr. Graves, as the messenger left the bank parlor8.
"Yes, sir, directly."
"My friend, you have deliberately10 planned your own downfall. Greed of money has made you dishonest, but your plans are destined11 to miscarry, as this time to-morrow you and your confederates will be made aware."
"Now," thought the bank messenger, as he bent12 his steps toward the railway station, "the path is clear. Here is what will completely change my fortunes, and lift me from an humble13 dependent to a comfortable position in life."
Then he thought, with some dissatisfaction, that he was to receive but one-sixth of the value of the bonds, and that the man who employed him to betray his trust would be much more richly paid. However, in his case, there would be no risk of being personally implicated14. No one could prove that he had allowed himself to be robbed. Even if suspicion fastened upon him, nothing could be proved. So, on the whole, perhaps it was better to be content with one-sixth than to incur15 greater[Pg 209] risk, and the dread16 penalty of imprisonment17 for a term of years.
On the railroad platform Carver glanced furtively18 about him. He easily recognized Brandon and Travers, who stood side by side, each having provided himself with a ticket. They on their side also glanced swiftly at him, and then turned away with a look of indifference19. But they had not failed to notice the important packet which the bank messenger carried in his hand.
"It is all right!" was the thought that passed through their minds.
There was another passenger waiting for the train, whom they did not notice. He was a small, quiet, unpretentious-looking man, attired20 in a suit of pepper and salt, and looked like a retail21 merchant in a small way, going to Portland or Boston, to order goods. They would have been very much startled had they known that it was a Boston detective, who had been telegraphed for by Mr. Graves, and that his special business was to follow them and observe their actions.
When the train reached the station Carver got in, and took a seat by himself in the second car. Just behind him sat the two confederates, Brandon and Travers, and in line with them, on the opposite side of the car,[Pg 210] sat the quiet man, whom we will call Denton.
Ten minutes before the train reached Portland Ephraim Carver left his seat, and very singularly forgot to take the parcel, of which he had special custody, with him. It was a remarkable22 piece of forgetfulness, truly.
But his oversight23 was not unobserved. Travers sprang from his seat, took the parcel, and following the messenger overtook him at the door of the car.
He tapped Carver on the shoulder, and the latter turned round.
"I beg pardon," said Travers, "but you left this on the seat."
"A thousand thanks!" said the messenger hurriedly. "I was very careless. I am very much indebted to you."
"I thought the packet might contain something valuable," said Travers.
"At any rate, I should not like to lose it," said the messenger, who appeared to be properly on his guard.
"Oh, don't mention it," said Travers politely, and he walked back and resumed his seat beside Brandon.
The quiet man, to whom we have already referred, noted25 this little piece of acting26 with a smile of enjoyment27.
[Pg 211]
"Very well done, good people," he said to himself. "It ought to succeed, but it won't."
His sharp eyes had detected what the other passengers had not—that Travers had skilfully28 substituted another package for the one he had picked up from the seat vacated by Carver.
Carver passed on into the next car, and Denton now concentrated his attention upon Brandon and Travers.
He noticed in both traces of joyful29 excitement, for which he could easily account. They thought they had succeeded, and each mentally congratulated himself on the acquisition of a neat little fortune.
"They will get out at Portland," thought Denton, "and take account of their booty. I should like to be there to see, but I am instructed to follow my friend the bank messenger to Boston, and must, therefore, forego the pleasure."
They went to the office, and, calling for the hotel register, carefully scanned the list of arrivals.
[Pg 212]
The afternoon previous they found entered the name of Colonel Johnson.
"Is Colonel Johnson in?" asked Brandon.
"We will ascertain," was the reply.
The bell-boy who was despatched to inquire returned with the message that Colonel Johnson would see the gentlemen.
They followed the attendant to a room on the third floor, where they found their employer pacing the room in visible excitement.
"Give me the parcel," he said, in a peremptory31 tone.
But his eager look was succeeded by black disappointment, as, instead of the bonds, he saw a package of blank paper of about the same shape and size.
"Confusion!" he ejaculated; "what does all this mean? What devil's mess have you made of the business?"
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1
grit
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| n.沙粒，决心，勇气；v.下定决心，咬紧牙关 | |
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custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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negotiations
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| 协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过 | |
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4
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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5
scrutinizing
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的现在分词 ) | |
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exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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7
vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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8
parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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10
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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11
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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12
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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13
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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14
implicated
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| adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的 | |
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15
incur
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| vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇 | |
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16
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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17
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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18
furtively
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| adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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20
attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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retail
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| v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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oversight
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| n.勘漏，失察，疏忽 | |
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24
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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27
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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skilfully
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| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
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29
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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30
hack
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| n.劈，砍，出租马车；v.劈，砍，干咳 | |
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31
peremptory
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| adj.紧急的，专横的，断然的 | |
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32
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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33
coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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