"
"I understand," said Mr. Grimm.
And ten minutes later Mr. Grimm presented himself to Senor Rodriguez.
The minister from Venezuela, bubbling with excitement, was pacing forth
and back across his office, ruffling his gray-black hair with nervous,
twining fingers. Mr. Grimm sat down.
"Senor," he inquired placidly, "fifty thousand dollars in gold would
weigh nearly two hundred pounds, wouldn't it?"
Senor Rodriguez stared at him blankly.
"_Si, Senor_," he agreed absently. And then, in English: "Yes, I should
imagine so."
"Well, was all of it stolen, or only a part of it?" Mr. Grimm went on.
The minister gazed into the listless eyes for a time, then, apparently
bewildered, walked forth and back across the room again. Finally he sat
down.
"All of it," he admitted. "I can't understand it. No one, not a soul in
this house, except myself, knew it was here."
"In addition to this weight of, say two hundred pounds, fifty thousand
dollars would make considerable bulk," mused Mr. Grimm. "Very well!
Therefore it would appear that the person, or persons, who got it must
have gone away from here heavily laden?"
Senor Rodriguez nodded.
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