"I must show this to my aunt," he said. "I suspected that note of Mr. Hall's was a forgery, and now I feel sure of it."
He carefully deposited the paper in his pocket-book, and, putting back the rest of the papers, shut the stove door, and resumed his place behind the counter, just as Mr. Hall returned from dinner.
He little guessed that John had made a discovery of the utmost consequence to him.
CHAPTER XXIX.
MR. HALL'S DISCOMFITURE.
The paper which John had discovered among the rubbish in the stove was a half sheet of foolscap, which was covered with imitations of Mr. Berry's handwriting, the words occurring being those of the note of hand which Hall had presented for payment. The first attempts were inexact, but those further down, with which pains had evidently been taken, were close copies of Mr. Berry's usual handwriting. This of course John could not know, not being familiar with his uncle's hand, but his aunt confirmed it.
"It is clear," said John, "that Mr. Hall has forged the note which he presented against my uncle's estate."
"What a wicked man," said Mrs. Berry, "to seek to defraud me and my poor fatherless children! I never could have suspected him."