During the remainder of the day I found myself looking forward with a feeling that was almost akin to eagerness, to the interview I was to have with Kitwater and Codd that afternoon.  If the two gentlemen had faults, unpunctuality was certainly not one of them, for the clock upon the mantelpiece had scarcely finished striking the hour of four, when I heard footsteps in the office outside, and next moment they were shown into my own sanctum.  Codd came first, leading his friend by the hand, and as he did so he eyed me with a look of intense anxiety upon his face.  Kitwater, on the other hand, was dignified, and as impressive as ever.  If he were nervous, he certainly concealed it very well.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Fairfax,” he said, as Codd led him to a seat.  “According to the arrangement we came to yesterday afternoon, we have come here to learn your decision which you promised to give us at four o’clock to-day.  I trust you have good news for us.”

“That depends upon how you take it,” I answered.  “I have made up my mind to help you on certain conditions.”

“And those conditions?”

“Are that you pay my expenses and the sum of five hundred pounds, to which another five hundred is to be added if I am successful in helping you to recover the treasure of which you told me yesterday.  Is that a fair offer?”

“An exceedingly fair one,” Kitwater replied, while little Codd nodded his head energetically to show that he appreciated it.  “We had expected that you would charge more.  Of course you understand that it may involve a chase round half the world before you can find him?  He’s as slippery as an eel, and, if he once gets to know that we are after him, he’ll double and twist like a hare.”

“He’ll not be the first man I have had to deal with who possessed these characteristics,” I answered.  “And I have generally succeeded in running them to earth at the end.”

“Let’s hope for all our sakes that you will be as successful in this case,” he said.  “And now, if I may ask the question, when will you be ready to begin your search?  We shall both feel happier when we know that you are on his track.”

“I am ready as soon as you like,” I rejoined.  “Indeed, the sooner the better for all parties concerned.  Nothing is to be gained by delay, and if, as you say, the man has now been in England two months, he may soon be thinking of getting out of it again, if he has not done so already.  But before I embark on anything, you must answer me some questions.”

“A hundred, if you like,” he returned.  “You have only to ask them and I will do my best to answer.”

“In the first place, I must have a description of this Mr. Gideon Hayle.  What is he like?”

“Tall, thin, with brown hair, and a short, close-cropped beard; he carries himself erect, and looks about thirty-eight.”

“You don’t happen to have a photograph of him in your possession, I suppose?”