“I—I hurt you?”
“Yes, with that ruler. What made you hit me like that? Take me for old Van Heldre?”
Harry’s jaw dropped, and he stared wildly at his companion.
“I—I hit you!” he faltered, as he struggled with his memory and asked himself whether he had stricken Pradelle down and not the old merchant.
“Well, I’ve got a cut two inches long and my head all swollen up. What made you do it?”
“I—do it! Here, what do you mean?”
“Mean? Why, that you were so long getting the loan—”
“Say stealing the notes. It would be more like the truth,” said Harry shortly.
“I won’t. I say you were so long getting the loan that I came to see what you were about, and you flew at me and knocked me down with the big ruler. Took me for a watchman, I suppose.”
“But when?—where?” cried Harry excitedly.