They spent some hopeless time in attempting to trace Birchard, but that gentleman had disappeared on the previous Saturday.  No one had seen him or had heard of him or had thought of him.  They put the case into the hands of detectives, and gave up hope.

“I don’t think it was lucky money any-how,” said Johnny gloomily.  Constance had not cared for it and it was worthless!

It was not until Monday that they found Eugene Wobbles, and that voluntary expatriate was almost as much taken aback as his brother Tommy had been.

“Ow, I say, it’s most extraordinary!” he declared, stroking his drooping mustache and swinging his monocle.  “Why, do you know, I met the blooming bounder at Lord Yawp’n’am’s—­second cousin, you know, of this very decent chap, Gresham.  Introduced him at my clubs and all that sort of thing, I assure you!  I’ll have the burning scoundrel blacklisted!”

“Thanks,” said Loring with deep gratitude.  “Of course that won’t get back the million though.”

“Well, I’m bound to give you the right there,” admitted Eugene, “but at the same time I must insist that it will cut the beggar never to be allowed the privileges of a gentleman’s club again.”

“And serve him right, I say; even jolly well right,” agreed Loring with a sarcasm that was altogether lost and was intended to be.

“I must say that our friend Gresham has behaved well in the matter,” added Eugene.  “Birth and breeding are bound to tell.  I fancy every one will admit that.  What?”

“They tell a great deal,” returned Loring dryly.  “What did our friend Gresham do that was so decent?”

“Ow, yes,” Eugene was reminded, “we were discussing that, weren’t we?  Well, at our friend Courtney’s house-party, Gresham was all for Birchard to handle this business; fairly forced him on us, don’t you know; but on Tuesday he came to us much pained, I assure you, and in the greatest confidence told us he was sure the beggar was not the man for the place.  Been mixed up in a rotten money scandal or so, don’t you know.”

“So you discharged Birchard,” Loring surmised, keenly interested.

“Well, not exactly,” replied Eugene.  “You see it wasn’t necessary.  We never had definitely appointed him.  Come to think, neither he nor Gresham insisted on it; and, anyhow, the fellow never came back to us.”

“I see,” said Loring softly with a glance at Johnny.  “So, you being without an agent, Gresham kindly consented to act for you—­without commission.”

“Ow, yes, certainly, without commission,” agreed Eugene.  “Very decent indeed of him, now, wasn’t it?”

“Almost pathetic,” admitted Loring.  “Well, Johnny,” he said as they went back to the office, “you’re up against it.  While Birchard was forging the papers to get your million Gresham was establishing an alibi for himself.  The only thing I see for you to do—­besides laying for Gresham—­is to repudiate this entire deal and get back as much of your half-million as you can.”