The Leopard's Spots by Fred M. White — Read

"I should be delighted," Stagg said gravely. "Nothing would give me greater pleasure. Later on next week, perhaps, when I have got rid of some troublesome business."

The Princess went away presently with Hawthorne in her train, leaving Stagg in his chair to turn over these events in his mind. He was just a little shaken and confused, and it was some short time before he began to see his way clearly. Not that he showed anything in his face, for the benign features behind the eternal cigarette were bland and smiling as usual. What a strange, mysterious combination it was. And how everything seemed to settle around the peaceful atmosphere of the famous Minchin Common golf links. It was here, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the nameless and unfortunate young man had found himself when he came back to his senses after the murderous attack had been made upon him. For Stagg was quite sure that the young man who had been discovered by a caddie asleep in a bunker was the same individual he had christened Nemo after that dramatic encounter in the restaurant. And here was another young man, an American adventurer beyond question, who had made this statement in connection with his banking account and who told Stagg that he had obtained the wherewithal to discharge a liability by a visit to a banking establishment which must have been closed before Hawthorne had reached the city, even if he had gone there at all, which Stagg very much doubted. Indeed, if he had done so, he would have found the place closed, in which case there would have been no reason for all that elaborate prevarication. It was more than likely, therefore, that Hawthorne had obtained the money from the beautiful and fascinating Princess, by whose side he was walking in the direction of the hotel at that very moment. It was more than probable that the two were in collusion, though that, for the present, there was no means of discovering. But here was another opening under Stagg's very eyes, and he was going to follow it out. He would follow it up, if only out of sheer curiosity. There might be money in it later on, but that, for the moment, was a mere detail.