"Soto,—Romolo Soto."
Mr. Bowdoin sank back in his chair again. "Why, that was the captain. Mercedes was the mate's child."
"No. The money was Soto's, and the child too. He told me he had only lately sent a detective here to try and trace the child."
"The sheriff's officer, by Jove!" said Mr. Bowdoin. "But can you prove it? can you prove it?" he cried.
"Mercedes had yellow hair, so had Soto. And he knew your name. And before he died he gave me papers."
Mr. Bowdoin jumped up, took the papers, and bolted into the street.
XIV.
His son James was sitting in the chair, with the other directors around him, when old Mr. Bowdoin reached the bank. There was a silence when he entered, and a sense of past discussion in the air. James Bowdoin rose.
"Keep the chair, James, keep the chair. I have a little business with the board."
"They were discussing, sir," replied James,
