“What five hundred pounds?”
“The money you—there, we will not dwell upon that old trouble, my dear Luke. Come: you know what I mean.”
“Oh, I see,” said the old man with much surprise. “That five hundred pounds. Well, what about it?”
“How could you be so foolish as to return my cheque?”
“Because you didn’t owe me the money.”
“Nonsense, my dear fellow! We are old friends, but that was entirely a business transaction.”
“Yes, of course it was.”
“Five hundred pounds were stolen.”
“Yes, and I was all right.”
“Exactly. Why should you suppose it was your money?”