“Silence, sir!” said Mr Merrett, sternly.
“I won’t be silent,” I shouted; “I never deceived you, and yet you go and believe what this miserable—”
Mr Merrett touched his bell angrily; but before any one answered it Mr Barnacle had looked up.
The junior partner had been silent all this time, an attentive but impassive listener to all that had passed. Once or twice during Hawkesbury’s story he had darted a quick glance at the speaker, and once or twice during my indignant protest his brows had knit, as it seemed, in anger. Mr Barnacle had always had the reputation of being the sterner of the two partners, and now, as he abruptly joined in the conversation, I felt as if it boded very little good for me.
“One moment,” said he to Mr Merrett; “there are a few more questions we should ask, I think. Batchelor, you are doing yourself no good by this noise,” he added, turning to me.
He was right, and I saw it. I quieted down with an effort, and wondered what was coming next.
Wallop appeared at the door in answer to the bell, and was told he was not wanted. Then Mr Barnacle turned to Hawkesbury and asked, “What brought you here so early as a quarter to nine, Hawkesbury?”
This question surprised Hawkesbury as much as it delighted me. I hardly expected to have a cross-examination in my favour conducted by Mr Barnacle.
“I came to do some work,” said Hawkesbury.
“What work?”