It was handed to him, and his face changed as he took it. He turned for a moment to show it to Mr Barnacle and whisper something. Then he said, “This is my key of the safe, which I left last night in the pocket of my office coat in this room!”
Chapter Thirty Eight.
How I ended the Day more comfortably than I had expected.
My misfortunes had now fairly reached a climax, and it seemed useless to struggle against circumstances any more.
Of course, I could see, as soon as my stunned senses recovered sufficiently to enable me to perceive anything, that the same false hand which had pointed me out as a thief had also placed that key in my desk as part of his wicked plot. I remembered that when I was conveyed up to the sample-room that morning my desk had been open. Nothing, therefore, could have been more simple than to secrete the key there during my absence, and so lay up against me a silent accuser which it would be far harder to gainsay than a talking one.
But what was the use of explaining all this when evidently fortune had decreed that I should become a victim? After all, was it not better to give in at once, and let fate do its worst?
“This is my key of the safe,” said Mr Merrett, and all eyes turned on me.
Nothing I could say, it was clear, could do any good. I therefore gaped stupidly at the key and said nothing.