The ledger keeper broke off—the telephone was ringing. He took down the receiver and began to talk loudly enough for Evan to hear.
"Yes, long distance. Where? Toronto! All right. Hello. Yes, this is the S—— Bank, Mt. Alban. Yes, this is one of the clerks. Who? ..."
Watson put his hand over the mouthpiece and whispered excitedly to the staring junior:
"It's the inspector!" Then he continued to speak: "Yes, sir, we have two junior men here. Yes, sir, one of them is here now. Three weeks. Yes, he's pretty good. You want to speak to him, sir?"
Watson turned to Evan.
"Inspector wants you," he said in a businesslike way.
Evan felt his knees weaken. He stared at the ledger keeper despairingly, but bucked up when Watson said:
"Don't keep him waiting—remember he's the inspector."
"Hello," said Nelson, feebly. "Yes, sir. I—I suppose so, sir, if the b-bank wants me to. Report there at once?—all right, sir, I'll try—I mean I'll report—"
He hung up the receiver and murmured: "Berne!"