The Agent expressed his thanks for the clerk's ready promise of coöperation, and took his leave.
Meanwhile he did not neglect other measures that he had adopted for tracing the robberies. By a singular coincidence, within an hour after this conversation with Carleton, he was able to seize a certain clue, which he had long been in search of, and despaired of obtaining.
On his return to the hotel, the landlord thus addressed him:
"You asked me if I could give you any more large bills, in exchange for small ones. I think I can accommodate you this morning. I have a one hundred dollar bank-note, which, if you are sending money by mail, will be very convenient."
"Thank you," replied the Agent; "it will be a great accommodation."
The landlord passed the bank-note over the counter. One can imagine the Agent's secret triumph on discovering, at last, one of the very bills he was in search of, one that had been lost in a letter passing that post-office only a week before; and of which he had an accurate description from the Department.
Having made the purchase, he held the bank-note up to the light.
"I suppose you will warrant this paper to be genuine?" he suggested.
"There is no doubt about it, sir," said the landlord.
"Of course you know from whom you had it?"
"To be sure! I took it of one of my boarders this morning, Captain Wilkins."
"I have no doubt but the bill is good," said the Agent, putting it in his pocket. "You are sure you had it of the Captain?"
"O, yes! 'twasn't an hour ago he gave it to me."
"By the way, who is this Captain Wilkins? He's a very gentlemanly-appearing fellow."
"O, he's a capital fellow!" said the landlord.
To a Northern reader, the two clauses of this statement may seem inconsistent with each other. But allowance must be made for the freedom of Southern manners and society. To bet at a faro bank is considered no serious stain upon the honor and respectability of gentlemen in Southern cities. The keeper of a faro bank may pass, as we have seen, for a "capital fellow." But the Agent felt pained to know from what source the landlord had obtained the bill. Already a dark picture of temptation and crime arose before his eyes. It is a significant and too often a tragical word--the Faro Bank!