"Indeed! Are you prepared to state that you had a credit balance at your bank?"
"Oh, I shouldn't think so!" said Neville. "I never have at the end of the quarter."
"Were you not, in fact, very much overdrawn?"
"I don't know. Was I?"
"Isn't this a- little unworthy of you, Mr. Fletcher? Did you not receive a communication from your bank, on the 14th of the month, informing you of the state of your overdraft?"
"Ah, I thought that was what it was about!" said Neville. "It generally is. Though not always, mind you. The bank once wrote to me about some securities, or something, of mine, and it led to quite a lot of trouble, on account of their stamping the name of the bank on the envelope. Because, of course, when I saw that I put the letter into the waste-paper basket. I mean, wouldn't you?"
"Are you asking me to believe that you did not open the bank's letter?"
"Well, it'll make things much easier for you if you do believe it," said Neville engagingly.
Hannasyde looked a little non-plussed, but said: "You did not, then, apply to your uncle for funds to meet your liabilities?"
"Oh no!"