“It would have been exceedingly inconvenient not only for you, but also for us,” said the manager.  “I shall report this matter at the Board meeting to-day.  We must endeavour to discover who this man is, and also his reasons for acting as he has done.  Should we hear anything further upon the subject, we will at once communicate with you.”

“I should be glad if you will do so,” I replied.  “I should like to get this matter cleared up as soon as possible.  There may be something behind it that we do not understand.”

I thanked him for the interview, and then took my departure, more puzzled by it than I had been by anything for a long time.  When I reached my office I took the card from a drawer, which Mr. Edward Bayley had sent to me, and despatched it by special messenger to the office of the famous mining company.  That afternoon another surprise was in store for me.  Shortly after lunch, and when I was in the middle of a letter to Kitwater, a message was received through the telephone to the effect that the managing director of the Santa Cruz Mining Company, whom I had seen that morning, was on his way to call upon me.

“Something has evidently come to light,” I reflected.  “Perhaps the mystery surrounding Mr. Edward Bayley is about to be cleared up, for I must confess I do not like the look of it.”

A quarter of an hour later the manager was ushered into my presence.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Fairfax,” he said.  “I have come to ask you, if you will permit me, a few questions, and also to tell you that I think we have discovered who it is that is masquerading as the occupant of my position.  You gave me this morning a rough description of the individual who called upon you, can you recall anything particular about his appearance.  Any strange mark, for instance.  Anything by which we should be able to swear to his identity?”

“I would swear to his identity anywhere, without a mark” I replied.  “But since you do mention it, I remember that he had a small triangular scar upon his left cheek.”

“Then it is the same man after all,” said the manager.  “That is certainly extraordinary.  When our secretary spoke to me about him after you had left I had my doubts; now, however, they are quite removed.  Why he should have called upon you in such a guise is a question I cannot for the life of me answer with any sort of satisfaction.”

“Perhaps you will be a little more explicit,” I said.  “You have not told me yet how it is that you have been able to locate the gentleman in question.  This morning you must remember you had no sort of remembrance of him.”