“I had overheard a conversation,” said Mr. Williams, the clerk of Mr. Wynn’s department, “between Mr. McLiver and his cousin Donald, in which certain threatening words were used towards Mr. Wynn. We watched his departure, thinking it quite possible that they might be lurking about the buildings in order to effect his ruin.”
When McLiver and Donald heard the above evidence they became agitated, and their faces became as white as snow. Mr. Roberts scarcely knew what to do. After considering a few minutes, he turned to McLiver, saying, “I fear your tale is untrue; for these six gentlemen, whom I have always found truthful and honourable, have in the most direct manner flatly contradicted you in every particular. I hope you and your cousin have not conspired to injure this young man.”
“You have hit the right nail on the head this time,” said Mr. Jones, “and no mistake. But is this £3000 the whole of your loss, friend Roberts?”
“The whole as far as I know.”
“Happy man! what a blessed thing it is to be rich, and unable to reckon up the whole of one’s profits.”
“I suppose, Jones,” remarked Mr. Roberts pettishly, “you wouldn’t like to lose £3000.”
“I am afraid, my friend, you will find your loss not £3000, but nine times three, if the £3000 has really disappeared.”
“What do you really mean, Jones? You appear to know more of my affairs than I know myself.”
“In a few words, I mean to say, Roberts, that that immaculate gentleman, the accuser of my young friend here, who is also the best friend you ever had, has robbed you to the tune of some £25,000, in addition to this £3000; for I presume he has taken that sum too; and Mr. Wynn has evidence in his bag,—it is still locked,—which will completely substantiate the fact. When you know the whole, you’ll bless the day, friend Roberts, on which my child was introduced into your establishment.”
“For the present we will suspend our judgment. Jones, Mr. Wynn, all of you, go to Mr. Wynn’s office. We will compare Mr. Wynn’s papers with our ledgers and day books.” The bag was unlocked, and paper after paper was produced, and document after document submitted for inspection and comparison. Cadwgan detailed step by step his proceedings in order to ascertain the exact sum total of the money abstracted by Mr. McLiver and Donald. After he had gone through these, he produced the documents and vouchers he had collected from firms with which Messrs. Davies, Roberts & Company had had transactions, and on being compared with the ledger, it was found that in many cases the actual sum paid to merchants for goods did not amount to a moiety of the sum inserted in the ledger. The evidence of McLiver’s guilt was overwhelming. When Mr. Roberts saw this, he took Mr. Wynn into his arms, embraced him as if he was his own child, and with tears in his eyes besought his pardon for having for a moment entertained suspicions of his honesty and rectitude.