Dawkins looked up in surprise.
“I shall require some one to fill YOUR place,” said Mr. Danforth, significantly.
“Sir!” exclaimed Dawkins, in astonishment and dismay.
His employer bent a searching glance upon him as he asked, sternly, “where did you obtain the money which you paid away last evening?”
“I—don't—understand—you, sir,” gasped Dawkins, who understood only too well.
“You met a man at the door of a low tavern in—Street, last evening, to whom you paid one hundred and fifty dollars, precisely the sum which I lost yesterday.”
“Who has been slandering me, sir?” asked Dawkins, very pale.
“An eye-witness of the meeting, who heard the conversation between you. If you want more satisfactory proof, here it is.”
Mr. Danforth took from his pocket-book the torn fragments of the note which Dawkins had given to Duval.
“Here is an obligation to pay a certain Duval the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars. It bears your signature. How you could have incurred such a debt to him you best know.”