say New York at once! _I'm_ not going to believe your lies, you young
robber! Don't expect it!"

It was a considerable tax on Reginald's temper to be addressed in
language like this, even by a lady, and he could not help retorting
rather hotly, "I'm glad you are only a woman, Mrs Wrigley, for I
wouldn't stand being called a thief by a man, I assure you!"

"Oh, don't let that make any difference!" said she, fairly in a rage,
and advancing up to him. "Knock me down and welcome! You may just as
well murder a woman as rob her!"

"I can only tell you again your order is being executed in London."

"And I can tell you I don't believe a word you say, and I'll just have
my two pounds back, and have done with you! Come, you can't say you
never got _that_!"

"If you sent it, I certainly did," said Reginald.

"Then perhaps you'll hand it up this moment?"

"I would gladly do so if I had it, but--"

"I suppose it's gone to London too?" said she, with supernatural
calmness.

"It has been paid in with all the money to the bank," said Reginald.
"But if you wish it I will write to the managing director and ask him to
return it by next post."

"Will you?" said she, in tones that might have frozen any one less
heated than Reginald. "And you suppose I've come all the way from
Dorsetshire to get that for an answer, do you? You're mistaken, sir! I
don't leave this place till I get my money or my things! So now!"

"Then," said Reginald, feeling the case desperate, and pushing a chair
in her direction, "perhaps you'd better sit down."

She glared round at him indignantly. But perhaps it was the sight of
his haggard, troubled face, or the faint suspicion that he, after all,
might be more honest than his employers, or the reflection that she
could get her rights better out of the place than in it. Whatever the
reason was, she changed her mind.

"You shall hear of me again, sir!" said she; "mind that! Love, indeed!"
whereupon she bounced out of the office and slammed the door behind her.

Reginald sat with his eyes on the door for a full two minutes before he
could sufficiently collect his wits to know where he was or what had
happened.

Then a sense of indignation overpowered all his other feelings--not
against Mrs Wrigley, but against Mr Medlock, for leaving him in a
position where he could be, even in the remotest degree, open to so
unpleasant a charge as that he had just listened to.

Why could he not be trus