The Channings: A Story

by Mrs. Henry Wood

“Nay, where was Arthur to find twenty pounds to send to you?”

“There are two ways in which he might find it. But”—Mr. Galloway broke off abruptly—“I do not like to urge these things on you; they can only inflict pain.”

“Not greater pain than I have already undergone,” was Mr. Channing’s answer. “Tell me, I pray you, all your thoughts—all you suspect: just as though you were speaking to any indifferent friend. It is right that I should know it. Yes, come in, Huntley,” Mr. Channing added, for Mr. Huntley at that moment opened the door, unconscious that any private conference was going forward. “I have no secrets from you. Come in. We are talking of Arthur.”

“I was observing that there are two means by which the money could have come from Arthur,” resumed Mr. Galloway, when Mr. Huntley had entered. “The one, by his never having used the note originally taken; the other, by getting a friend to return it for him. Now, my opinion is, that he did not pursue the first plan, I believe that, if he took the note, he used it. I questioned him on the evening of its arrival, and at the first moment his manner almost convinced me that he was innocent. He appeared to be genuinely surprised at the return of the money, and ingenuously confessed that he had not possessed any to send. But his manner veered again—suddenly, strangely—veered round to all its old unsatisfactory suspiciousness; and when I hinted that I should recall Butterby to my counsels, he became agitated, as he had done formerly. My firm belief,” Mr. Galloway added, laying his hand impressively upon Mr. Channing—“my firm belief is, that Arthur did get the money sent back to me through a friend.”

“But what friend would be likely to do such a thing for him?” debated Mr. Channing, not in the least falling in with the argument. “I know of none.”

“I think”—and Mr. Galloway dropped his voice—“that it came from Hamish.”

“From Hamish!” was Mr. Channing’s echo, in a strong accent of dissent. “That is nonsense. Hamish would never screen guilt. Hamish has not twenty pounds to spare.”

“He might spare it in the cause of a brother; and for a brother’s sake he might even screen guilt,” pursued Mr. Galloway. “Honourable and open as Hamish is, I must still express my belief that the twenty pounds came from him.”

“Honourable and open as Hamish is!” the words grated on Mr. Huntley, and a cynical expression rose to his face. Mr. Channing observed it. “What do you think of it?” he involuntarily asked.

“I have never had any other opinion but that the money did come from Hamish,” drily remarked Mr. Huntley. And Mr. Channing, in his utter astonishment, could not answer.