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him。〃
〃That's because he is never kind to her；〃 said the quick child； speaking wiser than she knew。
For Matty； she got a word with Tom； and he too promised that they would be away from the Department in time to meet the home party； and that all of them should go to church together。
CHAPTER III
CHURCH AND SERMON
And； accordingly； as Mrs。 Molyneux with her little troop crossed F Street； they met the gentlemen all coming toward them。 They broke up into groups； and Tom and Matty got their first real chance for talk since they had parted the night before。 No！ Tom had found no clue at the Navy Department。 And although Eben Ricketts had been good as gold； and had stayed and worked with Tom till long after midnight； Eben had only worked to show good…will； for Eben had not the least faith that there was any clue there。 Eben had said that if old Mr。 Whilthaugh； who knew the archive rooms through and through； had not been turned out； they could do in fifteen minutes what had cost them six hours； and that old Mr。 Whilthaugh； without looking； could tell whether it was worth while to look。 But old Mr。 Whilthaugh had been turned out； and Eben； even； did not know precisely what had become of him。 He thought he had gone back into Pennsylvania； where his wife came from； but he did not know。
〃But； Matty； if nothing turns up to…day； I go to Pennsylvania to…morrow to find this old Mr。 Whilthaugh。 For I shall die if I stay here； and all the Eben Rickettses in the world will never persuade me that the vouchers are not in that archive…room。 If the Navy did the work； the Navy must have the vouchers。〃
Then Matty ventured to ask what she and her mother had wondered about once and again；why these particular bits of paper were so necessary。 Surely other vouchers； or certified copies； or books of account could be found somewhere！
〃Yes！ I know； you would say so。 And if it were all yesterday； and was all in these lazy times of peace； you would say true。 But you see； in the first place； this is ever so long ago。 Then； in the second place； it was in the heat of war； when everything was on a gigantic scale； and things had to be done in unheard…of ways。 Then； chiefly； this particular business involved the buying up of I do not know who among the Rebels there in Texas； and among their allies on the other side the Rio Grande。 This old Spaniard； whom mamma remembers； and whom I just remember； he was the chief captain among the turncoats； and there were two or three others； F。 F。 men in their places；〃First Family men；〃 that means； you know； but after they did this work they did not stay in their places long。 No！ papa says he was mighty careful； that he had three of the scoundrels sworn before notaries； or rather before one notary； and had their receipts and acknowledgments stamped with his notary's seal。 Still； it did not do to have a word said in public then。 And after everything succeeded so perfectly； after the troops landed without a shot； and found all the base ready for them； corn and pork just where they wanted it；why； then everybody was too gratified to think of imagining； as they do now； that papa had stolen that money that bought the pork and the corn。〃
〃I wish they were only half as grateful now；〃 he said； after a pause。
〃Tom；〃 said Matty； eagerly； 〃who was that notary？〃
〃I thought of that； too；〃 said Tom。 〃There is no doubt who it was。 It was old Gilbert； you must remember his sign； just below Faulkner's on the avenue。 But in the first place； Gilbert died just after our taking Richmond。 In the second place； he never knew what the papers wereand he executed twenty such sets of papers every day； very likely。 All he could say； at the very best； would be that at such a time father brought in an old Spaniard and two or three other greasers； and that he took their acknowledgments of something。〃
〃I do not know that； Tom；〃 said the girl； without flinching at his mannish information。 〃If notaries in Washington are anything like notaries in novels； that man kept a record or register of his work。 If he was not very unlike everybody else who lives and works here； he left a very destitute widow when he died。 Tom； I shall go after church and hunt up the Widow Gilbert。 I shall ask her for her husband's books； and shall tell her why I want them。〃
The girl dropped her voice and said： 〃Tom； I shall ask her IN HIS NAME。〃
〃God grant it does any good； dear girl；〃 said he。 〃Far be it from me to say that you shall not try〃
But here he stopped speaking； for he felt Matty's arm shake in his； and her whole frame trembled。 Tom had only to keep his eyes before him to see why。
Mr。 Greenhithe； Matty's old admirer； the clerk who had been dismissed for stealing； was just entering the church； and even touched his hat to her as she went by。
Tom resisted his temptation to thrash him then and there。 He said；
〃Matty； I believe I will tackle that man！〃
〃Oh； Tom！〃
〃Yes； Matty； I can keep my temper； and he cannot keep his。 He has one advantage over most knaves； that he is not only a knave of the first water； but he is sometimes a fool； too。 If it were only decent and right to take him into Downing's saloon； and give him just one more glass of whiskey than the blackguard would care to pay for； I could get at his whole story。〃
〃But； Tom； I thought you were so sure the Navy had the papers！〃
〃Well！ well！〃 said Tom； a little annoyed； as eager people are when other eager people remember their words against them。 〃I was sureI was wholly suretill I left Eben Ricketts。 But after thatwell； of course； we ought to pull every string。〃
〃Tom！〃 This with a terrible gulp。
〃Tom； you don't think I ought to speak with him！〃
〃Matty！〃
〃Why； Tom； yes； if he does knowif he is holding this up in terror； Tom； I could make him do what I chose once； Tom。 You don't think I ought to try？〃
〃Matty； if you ever speak to that snake again； I will thrash him within an inch of his life； and I will never say a word to you as long as you live。〃
〃That's my dear Tom！〃 And； hidden as they were； and crying as she was under her veil； she flung her arms around him and kissed him。
〃All the same；〃 said Tom； after he had kissed her again and again；〃all the same； I shall find out； after church； where the snake is staying。 I shall go to the hotel and take a cigar。 I shall offer him one； and he is so mean and stingy that he will take it。 Perhaps this may be one of his fool days。 Perhaps somebody else will treat him to the whiskey。 No； Matty！ honor bright； _I_ will not； though that ten cents might give us all a Merry Christmas。 Honor bright； I will not treat。 But I am not a saint； Matty！ If anybody else treats； I must not be expected to be far away。〃
Then he wiped her eyes with his own handkerchief and led her in to the service。 Their own pew was already full。 He had to take her back into Dr。 Metcalf's pew。
So Matty was spared one annoyance which was prepared for her。
Directly in front of her father's pew； sitting in the most conspicuous seat on the other side of the aisle； was the hateful Mr。 Greenhithe。
Had he put himself there to watch Matty's face？
If he did； he was disappointed。 If he had per