“Well, there has been a mistake about this bill,” said Oscar. “Either it was not paid, and the person who had the money receipted it; or else it was paid to some unauthorised person in Jones and Wright’s who pocketed the money and receipted the bill without using the firm’s stamp. Anyway the money has never got into the right hands, and I am very uneasy about it, because I can’t be sure who it was that took the money from me. And it is such a dreadful thing to think of anybody’s being a thief. I wondered if you had given it afterwards to some other person. I can’t help having a vague impression that you had something to do with it, Cyril.”
Oscar looked up appealingly. Stronger and more strong was the notion coming to him that Cyril was the responsible person. But how would it be possible to bring it home to him if he denied? Oscar did not think either of the younger clerks had been present when the talk between them passed. He seemed to remember Cyril’s saying it had better be paid, and his taking the money away before the lads came back from their dinner. Yes, he felt more and more certain every minute. But Cyril lay back in his chair and laughed.
“My dear fellow, you are quite making a mare’s nest for yourself. I had nothing whatever to do with the matter. I recollect my father’s bringing you the money and telling you to pay, and I recommended you to lock it up out of sight. That is all I know of the matter, and I’m afraid I can’t help you out of your difficulty——”
And there Cyril suddenly stopped short for North had entered the room, and it was plain from his face that he knew the story and had come to talk the matter over with Oscar.
“I’ll leave you to have it out together,” said Cyril rather hastily, rising and walking away. “I wish I could help you to a better memory, Oscar; but, perhaps, if you and North talk it over together you’ll get some light on the subject.”
He walked off whistling, closing the door behind him. North looked after him with the same rather stern expression on his face that it had worn on entering.
“Oscar,” he said slowly, “do you mean that Cyril is in any way mixed up in this wretched business?”
Oscar dropped his eyes and spoke in a very low tone.
“I don’t know, North.”
(To be continued.)