“It’s a family matter, sir.”
“Family matter! What has my family to do with 95 my money—ha! I guess why you’ve come. Yes—yes—something to do with my grandson?”
“Just so, sir.”
“What is it now? Debts, overdrawn accounts—what—what?”
“To put the matter in a nutshell, sir, two checks were presented some weeks ago, signed by you, one for two thousand dollars, the other for five thousand dollars—which—”
“What!—when? I haven’t signed a check for any thousand dollars for months.” This was true, as the miser’s creditors knew to their cost. It was next to impossible to collect money from him.
“One check was made out to your daughter, Mary Swinton, and presented at the bank, and cashed by your grandson, Mr. Richard Swinton.”
“Yes, for five dollars.”
“Five thousand dollars, sir.”
“But I tell you I never drew it.”