"It is an overcoat for Mr. Silas Drayton," he said.

 

"Very well," said the clerk. "You can leave it, and we will send it to his room."

 

Upon this the boy left the hotel.

 

A young man of twenty-five or thereabouts, who was sitting near by, listened attentively¹ to what passed between the boy and the clerk.

 

The latter summoned Rupert, and said: "Here is the key of 58. You may take up this coat and leave it in the room. It belongs to Mr. Drayton."

 

"All right, sir."

 

Rupert started with the bundle, and the[Pg 252] young man started for the elevator, and got into it just as it was about to ascend².

 

"I want to go up to No. 58," he said.

 

"Very well."

 

When they reached the third floor the elevator boy halted.

 

"You will find No. 58 on this floor," he said.

 

"Thank you."

 

The young man found the room, and was standing³ in front of it when Rupert made his appearance.

 

"Is that my uncle's coat?" he asked.

 

"It is Mr. Drayton's coat."

 

"Exactly. Mr. Drayton is my uncle. You may give it to me, and I will take it in. Have you the key?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"Then you may give it to me; I came up without one."

 

He spoke⁴ with such assurance that Rupert, accustomed as he was to impostors, was quite taken in. He handed the package and the key to the young man, who at once opened the door and went into the room.

 

[Pg 253]

 

When Rupert had got half-way down stairs he began to wonder if he had not made a mistake.

 

He did not feel at all sure that the young man to whom he had handed the bundle had any right to claim it. As it might prove to be a serious mistake he went to the clerk and inquired, "Has Mr. Drayton got a nephew stopping here?"

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