"No, sir."
"Why not?" demanded Bond, frowning.
"There was some mistake, Mr. Bond. The letter you gave me contained no money."
"Contained no money! What do you mean?" exclaimed the storekeeper.
Oliver briefly related the circumstances, repeating that the letter contained no money.
"Do you mean to tell me such an unblushing falsehood," demanded Ezekiel Bond, "expecting me to believe it?"
"Mr. Bond," said Oliver, with dignity, "itis just as I say. There was no money in the letter."
"Silence!" roared Bond, working himself up into a premeditated excitement. "I tell you I put the money in myself. I think I ought to know whether there was any money in it."
"It is very strange, sir. I saw Mr. Norcross open the letter. If he had taken any bill out, I should have seen it."
"I presume you would," sneered Bond. "I dare say he did find the letter empty."