The next morning, Captain Hornaby went to London in search of Colonel Spencer. He visited his clubs, and, because it was necessary, many of the gambling places, but his quest was fruitless. As a last resort he went to the War Office and learned that the Colonel had sailed the day before to join his regiment in India.
The Captain reported the failure of his mission to Florence.
“I have been talking the matter over with Aunt Ella. She advises me to send a cable message to father asking what bank the check was deposited in and by whom.”
“He may have cashed it at your father's bank,” said the Captain.
“Then Aunt Ella says my father can see the bank officers and make sure that the Colonel got the money.”
“I will go back to London to-morrow and send the message in your name.”
“The story deepens,” said the Captain, when he returned with the reply from the Hon. Nathaniel Adams Sawyer. It read,
“State National. Deposited five hundred. Revere House. Interviewed my bank.”
“What does it mean?” asked Florence. “So many words are omitted. I can't make sense of it.”
“It means,” said the Captain, “that Col. Spencer is innocent. He was staying at the Revere House when I paid him his three hundred dollars. He must have cashed your father's check at the hotel, they paying him five hundred dollars only, and they, I mean the hotel proprietors, deposited it in their bank, the State National.”
“They mean that some one in your father's bank raised the check and he has seen the bank officers about it.”
“I'm so glad,” cried Florence. “You must come and explain it all to Aunt Ella.”
She was greatly pleased to learn that Captain Hornaby was innocent of any complicity in the embezzlement, and said to Florence: “You will get a letter from your father telling you who the real criminal is,” and turning to the Captain, continued, “We go back to Fernborough Hall to-morrow, Captain Hornaby, but when that letter comes we will send for you.”
“I can bear the suspense now that Colonel Spencer and myself are free from any charge of criminality, but I greatly regret, Miss Sawyer, that your father has met with such a heavy loss.”
“Don't worry, yet, Captain,” said Aunt Ella. “Florence's father won't be out any money if there's any legal way of making the bank bear the loss.”