But while Mr. Andrews was questioning this man, Phillips knocked at the door, and with a whispered word to his master gave him a note.
"It's from Simmons' people, and they want to withdraw the case against Mr. Arthur Murray."
"What? After having him arrested like a thief in the open street? Do they suppose we are going to stop the case to please them? No, no! My lady has insisted upon having this affair fully investigated, and so do I now. If she had not stirred in it, we should not. But the inquiry must go on now. Simmons' people may tell the magistrate they want to withdraw the case, but I shall insist upon my witnesses being heard before it is done. Charges have been made against my client here, and now I am fully prepared to disprove them, and clear his character once and for all; and nothing shall prevent me from doing it either!" added the lawyer in a determined tone.
"That's only fair and just," commented the cabman. "We can't none of us afford to lose our characters," he added, with a nod at Arthur.
"No; this lad needs a good character to be his mainstay through life as much as you or I do, and I mean to defend it," said the lawyer.
There was a little more talk, and then the cabman was dismissed with a word of advice as to the time he should be at the court the next day.
As the door closed, Mr. Andrews grasped the lad's hand. "It is plain sailing now, my lad," he said. "You can go home and tell your mother all about it without the least fear of what will happen to-morrow."
"But there is the post office order to account for. You remember the young woman said that Cousin Ted changed the cheque for five pounds, and then had a post office order for three pounds!"
"To be sure she did," answered Mr. Andrews. "But that point can rest for the present. You are charged, not with stealing a post office order, but a particular cheque for five pounds. I shall, of course, bring forward this point, but it will not affect our case. We can prove your innocence of the charge made against you, and that will be enough for the present."