“In years gone by we had been friends.
“When he was tried I did what I could to help him.
“The evidence was too strong against him, and he was convicted.
“When he was sent to prison he left in my care some securities to dispose of. I sold them and placed the money on deposit with the Bank of North America.
“I wrote to him about it, and he said that he desired me not to communicate with him again until he should be free. Then he would call upon me. If I were to die I was to provide in my will that the money should be placed with some trust company for him.
“Well, as I said, he called on me yesterday. He asked me for two hundred dollars, and I gave it to him.”
The gentleman paused.
“How much was the full amount?” asked Nick, upon whom the cashier’s information was making a clear impression of innocence on the part of Alfred Lawrence.
“About seven thousand dollars,” the cashier answered.
“Did Lawrence talk about his family?”