When the day arrived upon which the India House usually issued a statement of their affairs, he was in a high fever, and, despite all remonstrance from his good old landlady, Dame Worthington, and old Sir Richard Warbeck, he persisted in going to the India House as usual, and even counterfeited gaiety.
The accounts soon showed a large deficit, and a buzz of astonishment was heard among all the clerks.
The directors of the India House seemed undisturbed, nor did they betray any token of great concern.
They smiled as blandly as before, and even joked with the terrified clerks, who were unable to speak, for all of them were implicated in suspicion, and none could imagine on whose head should rightly fall the actual guilt.
Each was distrustful of the other.
Towards the close of business hours Charley became really ill, but as he had been unwell for several days previous, no remark was passed upon his going home earlier than usual.
Excitement caused fever, and the latter superinduced lightness and flightiness of the mind.
In truth he was not now sane.
When he entered the house, Dame Worthington gazed upon him for a few moments, and then burst into tears.
He was unable to walk upstairs, hence the good old dame led him into the snug parlor, and put him to bed there upon the couch, and sent for medical assistance.