Lady Mary did not stop to consider what she said or what she did. Her Irish blood was roused, and she kept up her jig as she went on: "That boy would not mind what he did! I know him, if you don't, and have suffered from him and his ways too much to put up with him quietly! Of course he would not mind taking my money, poor as they are now! Why did you let him come here? Why didn't you tell him to go to some other town for a situation? Did you know they were so poor that any money would be a temptation to that boy? And I tell you he has done pretty much as he likes all his life!"
Mr. Brading looked at the angry lady in wondering surprise. But at last he managed to say: "You seem to forget, my lady, that it was no business of mine to tell him to go elsewhere in search of a situation. I needed an assistant in the accountant's department, and Arthur Murray was recommended to me as being clever and careful at book-keeping, and I was willing to give him a trial."
"Although you must have known that he has been brought up in such habits of luxury and extravagance that the Murrays, that branch of the family at least, have not paid their debts for years! So that the salary you would be likely to pay him would never suffice for all his fancied wants, and he would help himself to other people's money of course!"
"I do not think you are justified, my lady, in making such charges as these against your nephew," said Mr. Brading. And he was about to say more, when Lady Mary turned upon him, white with anger.
"How dare you call him my nephew!" she protested. "He is no relation of mine. My late husband was cousin to his father, and I have good cause to regret even this slight kinship. For nearly all the money left me by my first husband has gone to these Murrays. And now to be robbed—!"
"I beg your pardon, Lady Mary, but I cannot allow these charges to be made unless they can be proved."
"Prove them, then, or I will! I tell you, Mr. Brading, I am not going to lose this cheque without making a stir about it, and discovering the thief! If my cheque is not satisfactorily accounted for by the end of the week, I shall put the matter into the hands of the police." And with this threat, Lady Mary walked out of the room, leaving Mr. Brading greatly disturbed.
Busy as he was that morning, he sat there for nearly half an hour thinking over this incident of the lost letter in all its possibilities. He did not like to suspect Arthur Murray of taking the cheque. But what was he to think, especially after what Lady Mary had said about him? Surely she must know him better than most people, and was she likely to make such a charge against one bearing her own name, unless she had good ground for her suspicion?
The thought of this being true was anything but welcome to Mr. Brading, for he liked the lad independently of his being his son's friend. The report he had received concerning him from Mr. Bristow as to the way in which he did his work, considering his youth, had pleased him very much, so that he had felt glad to hear that Arthur was satisfied with his position, and willing to stay on.
"If this arrangement had not been entered into, the position would not have been so difficult," thought Mr. Brading, as he sat there and pondered and wondered what step he ought to take in the matter, and considering Lady Mary's threat to call in the police. This was a position he had not thought of, and it would involve business aspects of the affair that might be even more unpleasant. He would far rather take the loss upon himself than have his name brought forward in a police court case.