14,247. Then possibly the men may have gone to the office before you?-They often did.
14,248. When you had a batch of them at the Custom House, did you not send some of them down to the office direct, while you waited to finish your settlement with the others?-They were settled with one by one; and they went away as they were settled with.
14,249. But as they were settled with, did you not send them down to the office?-They went of their own accord.
14,250. Did you never tell them to go to the office?-They knew to go.
14,251. Did you never tell them?-I have seen me telling them to go as soon as possible, because I wanted them to be settled with and away before I came down. Mr. Robertson generally would be waiting for them, and he might have to go out.
14,252. Do you mean that Mr. Robertson would be expecting them?-Yes.
14,253. And he might have other engagements which he had to attend to as soon as their business was over?-Yes.
14,254. Therefore I suppose you may often have had occasion to tell them to go down to the shop direct from the Custom House?- I may have told them to go as soon as possible.
14,255. Did you not always do so?-No.
14,256. Did you not always tell them so when you thought it was necessary?-No.