Whereupon three gentlemen entered the room. The first, a fat, fussy little man, said he was the proprietor of the Brazencrook Music Hall; that half an hour ago he went to the Old Bank to pay in three hundred pounds. It consisted of a miscellaneous roll of notes. He pushed the money upon the counter towards the receiver in the usual way; and at that moment “this gentleman,” pointing to the Rev. Thomas Barnes, curate of All Souls, asked him a question about some subscription to a fund for a poor family formerly in his employ, and when he turned round the money was gone.
The second speaker was the receiving clerk at the bank, who said when Mr. Flooks came in he noticed that the gentleman pushed a parcel upon the counter; but when he laid down his pen to take it there was no money to be seen.
“What were you doing when Mr. Flooks entered the bank?” asked the chief of police.
“I was casting up some figures.”
“Did you attend to Mr. Flooks at once?”
“I did not; I finished my casting first.”
“Did you see the notes on the counter?”
“I saw something which appeared to be a bundle of notes.”
“When did you know the money was gone, Mr. Flooks?”
“As soon as I turned round. I expected the receiver had taken it up, but he said, ‘Where’s the money?’”