"Do you want to come in too?" asked Mr. Bruff kindly. "Come in then,
and keep at my heels till further orders. He's as quick as lightning,"
pursued Mr. Bruff, addressing me in a whisper. "Two words will do with
Gooseberry, where twenty would be wanted with another boy."
We entered the bank. The outer office--with the long counter, behind
which the cashiers sat--was crowded with people; all waiting their turn
to take money out, or to pay money in, before the bank closed at five
o'clock.
Two men among the crowd approached Mr. Bruff, as soon as he showed
himself.
"Well," asked the lawyer. "Have you seen him?"
"He passed us here half an hour since, sir, and went on into the inner
office."
"Has he not come out again yet?"
"No, sir."
Mr. Bruff turned to me. "Let us wait," he said.
I looked round among the people about me for the three Indians. Not a
sign of them was to be seen anywhere. The only person present with a
noticeably dark complexion was a tall man in a pilot coat, and a round
hat, who looked like a sailor. Could this be one of them in disguise?
Impossible! The man was taller than any of the Indians; and his face,
where it was not hidden by a bushy black beard, was twice the breadth of
any of their faces at least.
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