In order to be perfectly sure, Mr.Latham went through his mail a second time.

Perhaps the letter of instructions had come addressed to the company, and had gone to the secretary, Mr.Flitcroft.
He arose to summon Mr.Flitcroft from an adjoining room, then changed his mind long enough carefully to replace the diamond in the box and thrust the box into a pigeonhole of his desk.

Then he called Mr.
Flitcroft in.
"Have you gone through your morning mail ?" Mr.Latham inquired of the secretary.
"Yes," he replied.

"I have just finished." "Did you happen to come across a letter bearing on--that is, was there a letter to-day, or has there been a letter of instructions as to a single large diamond which was to come, or had come, by mail ?" "No, nothing," replied Mr.Flitcroft promptly.

"The only letter received to-day which referred to diamonds was a notification of a shipment from South Africa." Mr.Latham thoughtfully drummed on his desk.
"Well, I'm expecting some such letter," he explained.