“I know of nothing which would warrant me in saying so,” replied I.
“Do you know whether Hawkesbury owes him money?”
“Yes—at least I have been told so.”
“By whom?”
“By a boy—a shoeblack who—”
“A shoeblack!” exclaimed Mr Merrett. “Is that your only authority?”
“I believe he is honest,” I said; “he overheard a conversation between Masham and a friend, in which Masham mentioned that Hawkesbury owed him £15.”
“Really,” said Mr Merrett, “this is almost absurd to take such testimony as that.”
“It wouldn’t be amiss to see the boy, though,” said Mr Barnacle; “a great deal depends on whether or no Hawkesbury owed money to Masham. Where is this boy to be found?”
“Oh, I could fetch him at once. I know where he works,” I said.