“‘So he is,’ I replied. ‘Stuff,’ said he. ‘I know him well. That was a clever dodge to play the country act.’ I protested, but he convinced me that he was right. He is in a lawyer’s office, so he has to be in court more or less, and he said he saw him up before Judge Duffy only a few days ago, charged with stealing a pocket book. The suspicion was strong against him, but there wasn’t proof enough to fix the theft upon him. The Court came near sending him to the Island, though, for he had been arrested twice before, so my friend said.”
“The young villain!” said the banker, when Felix had finished this black falsehood, which he told so glibly, and with such seeming reluctance, that Mr. Goldwin accepted it as all truth. “I am sorry I ever took him into my office,” he continued. “I must have the bank carefully looked over, to see if he misappropriated anything, as he very likely did.”
Felix said nothing, but seemed to look sorry for Herbert.
“Well,” said Mr. Goldwin, after a pause, “is it too late to get you?”
“I don’t know,” answered Mortimer, hesitatingly. “I would like to work for you, but would not feel right to take the position away from this Vermonter.”
Felix laid a special stress upon the word “Vermonter.”
“Take it away from him!” replied the banker, scornfully. “He cannot enter this bank again.”
“But you see I would feel that I am the means of keeping him out of the position. You wouldn’t have known about his deception if I hadn’t told you.”
Felix now used the word “deception” flippantly, and with no further apparent apology for applying it to our hero.
“That is all right,” replied Mr. Goldwin; “I am glad to see you sensitive about injuring another. It is much to your credit that you feel as you do about it.”