Jaspar closed the door upon the attorney, and was in the act of lighting
a cigar, when Dalhousie entered. The overseer endeavored to discover in
the countenance of his employer some indications of his motive in
sending for him; but Jaspar maintained a perfect indifference, which
defeated his object, Neither spoke for several moments; but at last the
overseer, embarrassed by the silence, said,
"You sent for me, Mr. Dumont?"
"I did," said Jaspar, suddenly, as though the words had roused him from
his profound abstraction; "I did; one of my keys is missing, so that I
cannot open the drawer. You arranged its contents, I believe."
"Yes," said Dalhousie, flustered, for he was not so deeply skilled in
the arts of deception as to carry them on without some compunction; "but
I left the key in the drawer."
"You see It is not there," said Jaspar, fixing his sharp gray eye upon
the overseer.
"It is not," said Dalhousie, advancing to the secretary. "Probably it
has fallen upon the floor--" and he stooped down to look for it.
Jaspar watched him in silence, as he felt about the floor.
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