To retain them would be hazardous--they might be stopped upon the road, and the possession of a dark lantern and a wallet of money would be strong evidences of something else than a detective operation, and besides this, secrecy was all-important at the present time.
Passing a ravine some distance from the scene of their operations, Robert threw the lantern away, and it dropped to the bottom with a noise that was echoed upon the quiet air; further on, the spade was disposed of, and then, disencumbered, the trio walked to Stamford, about eight miles distant, where they boarded a train and returned to New York, well pleased with the result of their night's work.
It was six o'clock when they arrived.

They proceeded at once to the Windsor Hotel, where the German Consul resided, and, awakening that gentleman, Robert sent up his card, when they were admitted to his parlor and the package was exhibited to his astonished gaze.
To count the contents of this enclosure was now the next duty to be performed, and in the presence of all the parties the labor was at once commenced.

The gold pieces were found to amount to one hundred marks--consisting of three twenty-mark and four ten-mark pieces--and it was noticed that one of them had a hole drilled through it.

The wallet next received attention.

It was discovered to be a pocket-book enclosed in a canvas wrapper, securely sewed together and fastened with sealing-wax.
The German Consul removed this outer covering and the black leather book was disclosed to view, which gave evidence of containing no small amount of money.
The contents were removed, and upon counting it, were found to amount to two hundred and four thousand marks, in one-thousand-mark bills--or nearly fifty thousand dollars.