“From the African trading account?” Stephen echoed. “But that’s impossible—Hugh has always had charge of that.”
“I know,” Bransby said dully.
“Uncle Dick,” Hugh cried, suddenly realizing that he was being accused—“Uncle Dick, you don’t mean that you think that I——” The passionate voice choked and almost broke.
Stephen stopped him. “Quiet, Hugh; of course he can’t mean anything so absurd as that. Besides, you’ve not been at the office for months.”
Helen threw toward Stephen a look full of gratefulness.
But her father said despairingly, “The money was taken while he was still at the office.”
“How do you know that, sir?” Stephen spoke almost sternly to his uncle.
But the older man did not resent that. “Certain alterations were made in the ledger during the time he had charge of it,” he explained drearily.
Hugh broke in hotly, “I know nothing of them.”
“Of course not,” his brother said cordially. “You see, sir——” turning to Bransby.