“You can’t think of any reason I may have for wishing to see you?”
“No, sir,” and Rodney returned Mr. Goodnow’s gaze with honest unfaltering eyes.
“Possibly you are not aware that within a few weeks some articles have been missed from our stock.”
“I have not heard of it. What kind of articles?”
“The boy is more artful than I thought!” soliloquized the merchant.
“All the articles missed,” he proceeded, “have been from the room in charge of Mr. Redwood, the room in which you, among others, are employed.”
Something in Mr. Goodnow’s tone gave Rodney the hint of the truth. If he had been guilty he would have flushed and showed signs of confusion. As it was, he only wished to learn the truth and he in turn became the questioner.
“Is it supposed,” he asked, “that any one in your employ is responsible for these thefts?”
“It is.”
“Is any one in particular suspected?”