berty to leave the
office. Merrett, I will go down to the bank."

"Do," said Mr Merrett.

And so this first painful interview ended. My feelings on finding
myself once more at my desk among my fellow-clerks may be more easily
imagined than described.

My indignation and sense of injury would scarcely allow me to think
calmly on my position. That my employers should be ready, on the
testimony of such a fellow as Hawkesbury, to believe a charge like this
against me, was simply unbearable, and my own helplessness to prove my
innocence only added tenfold to my trouble. Oh! if Jack were only here,
I might get some light.

I hurriedly dashed off a note to him, telling him all, and begging him
to come. Yet what was the use of writing when I was not allowed to
leave the office to post the letter?

I only wished Mr Barnacle would come back from the bank, and that I
might know the worst.

As for Hawkesbury, he had shut himself up in his glass box, and was
invisible.

Presently, not a little to my comfort, Doubleday returned. Fortunately,
Crow was in another part of the office at the time, so that before he
delivered his message I had time for a hurried consultation.

"Doubleday," said I, in a whisper, "I am accused of stealing a cheque;
can you help me out?"

"Guilty, or not guilty?" inquired Doubleday, taking a practical view of
the case at once. This was pleasant, but it was no time to be
particular.

"It is a lie from beginning to end, invented by Hawkesbury to shield
himself from a similar charge."

"Oh, that's it? He's been coming out in that line has he?"

I hurriedly narrated the morning's adventures, greatly to his
astonishment and wrath. He took in the situation at once.

"Jolly awkward fix," said he. "Seen the cheque?"

"No; Mr Barnacle is down at the bank now."

"Doubleday," said Crow, entering at this moment, "the governors want
you--sharp."

"They are going to send you for a policeman," I said. "If anything
happens, Doubleday, will you please telegraph to Smith, at Mrs
Shield's, Packworth, and tell him to come to me, and also find out
Billy, the shoeblack, and say I want to see him."

Doubleday looked at me with something like amazement as I made this
request, which, however, he promised to fulfil, and then waited on Mr
Merrett in the partners' room.

However, he returned almost immediately, and said he was to wait until
Mr Barnacle came back.

It seemed ages before that event ha