"That it is false from beginning to end."

"You deny, in fact, ever having been at this safe, or in this room?"

"Most certainly."

They all looked grave, and Mr Merrett said, solemnly, "I am sorry to
hear you deny it, Batchelor. If you had made a full confession we
should have been disposed to deal more leniently with you."

"I never did it--it's all false!" I cried, suddenly losing all self-
control. "You know it's false; it's a plot to ruin me and Jack."

"Silence, sir!" said Mr Merrett, sternly.

"I won't be silent," I shouted; "I never deceived you, and yet you go
and believe what this miserable--"

Mr Merrett touched his bell angrily; but before any one answered it Mr
Barnacle had looked up.

The junior partner had been silent all this time, an attentive but
impassive listener to all that had passed. Once or twice during
Hawkesbury's story he had darted a quick glance at the speaker, and once
or twice during my indignant protest his brows had knit, as it seemed,
in anger. Mr Barnacle had always had the reputation of being the
sterner of the two partners, and now, as he abruptly joined in the
conversation, I felt as if it boded very little good for me.

"One moment," said he to Mr Merrett; "there are a few more questions we
should ask, I think. Batchelor, you are doing yourself no good by this
noise," he added, turning to me.

He was right, and I saw it. I quieted down with an effort, and wondered
what was coming next.

Wallop appeared at the door in answer to the bell, and was told he was
not wanted. Then Mr Barnacle turned to Hawkesbury and asked, "What
brought you here so early as a quarter to nine, Hawkesbury?"

This question surprised Hawkesbury as much as it delighted me. I hardly
expected to have a cross-examination in my favour conducted by Mr
Barnacle.

"I came to do some work," said Hawkesbury.

"What work?"

"I had several things to catch up."

"What? Invoices, or letters, or accounts, or what?"

"I had the petty-cash to balance."

"That is supposed to be done every day, is it not?"

"Yes; but I had got rather behind."

"How many days behind?" said Mr Barnacle.

"Really I can't quite say," said Hawkesbury, who did not seem used to
being driven into a corner. "My journey North threw me out of it."

"Then you have not balanced the petty-cash since before you went North,
nearly three weeks ago? Am I to understand that?"

"Yes," said Hawkesbury.

"Is this the first