"About a year."
The two partners exchanged glances.
"Where do you live, Mr. Denton?"
"In Groveton."
"Ahem! Mr. Sears, will you be kind enough to draw out the necessary papers?"
Tony Denton felt relieved. The trouble seemed to be over.
Mr. Gay at the same time stepped into the main office and gave a direction to one of the clerks.
Mr. Sears drew out a large sheet of foolscap, and began, in very deliberate fashion, to write. He kept on writing for some minutes. Tony Denton wondered why so much writing should be necessary in a transaction of this kind. Five minutes later a young man looked into the office, and said, addressing Mr. Gay. "All right!"
Upon that Mr. Sears suspended writing.
"Mr. Denton," said Mr. Gay, "are you aware that this bond which you have brought us was stolen from the Groveton Bank?"