‘Certainly not,’ said Marston; ‘and what’s more, you must get him away from here at once, and away from his lodgings. He’s a link, and I hate links. Directly a link is established, if a clever man doesn’t find it, a fool will blunder on to it. He must be got out of the way at once.’
Mr. Brooks recognised the necessity of removing the ‘link’ at once. Duck would be sure to hear of the forgery on his masters, and George’s very greenness might furnish a clue to the whole thing at any moment.
‘In the mean time,’ asked Marston, pacing the room impatiently, ‘who’s going to cash this cheque? Will you?’
Mr. Brooks hesitated, and humm’d and ha’d. It might be dangerous. He might be detained, and he had no idea of being detained. If George had been detained it wouldn’t have mattered.
They would all have time to clear out. No; on consideration it wouldn’t do at all for him to take the cheque.
They were on the horns of a dilemma now, and it was necessary to act at once. The person presenting the cheque must be a gentlemanly person to inspire confidence, and there wasn’t one of the regular gang they could trust.
Suddenly Marston brought his fist down on the table.
‘I have it,’ he exclaimed. ‘There’s only one way. This follow must present the cheque and bring the money back to you.’
‘Yes; but suppose he talks about it to Grigg and Limpet’s clerk when he goes home?’
‘He won’t talk about it.’