'The word of my wife who with me received the instrument from Mr. Camlet.'
'Receiving the instrument does not clear you of liability—what else?'
'The fact that Mr. Camlet never asked me for the money.'
'An oversight. Had he, in a word, intended the instrument for a gift, he would have said so. Now, Sir, what other proofs have you?'
I was silent. I had no other proof.
He turned again to the book he had before consulted. It was the ledger, and there, in Mr. Camlet's own handwriting, firm and square, was an entry:
'To Will Halliday—a Harpsichord, £55.
In another book was an entry to the office that the instrument had been delivered.
Of course, I understand now what the old man meant by the entry. He wanted to note the gift and the value: and unfortunately he entered it as if it was a business transaction.
'Well, Sir?' asked Mr. Probus.