to get rid of the money which he had
obtained dishonestly, and obtain back from Duval the acknowledgment of
indebtedness which he had given him.

You will perhaps ask whether the wrong which he had done Paul affected
him with uneasiness. On the contrary, it gratified the dislike which
from the first he had cherished towards our hero.

"I am well rid of him, at all events," he muttered to himself, "that is
worth risking some thing for."

When office hours were over Dawkins gladly threw down his pen, and left
the counting-room.

He bent his steps rapidly towards the locality where he had before met
Duval. He had decided to wait some time before meeting that worthy. He
had to wait till another day, when as he was emerging from the tavern he
encountered the Frenchman on the threshold.

"Aha, my good friend," said Duval, offering his hand, which Dawkins did
not appear to see, "I am very glad to see you. Will you come in?"

"No, I have not time," said Dawkins, shortly.

"Have you brought me my money?"

"Yes."

"Aha, that is well. I was just about what you call cleaned out."

"Have you my note with you?"

Duval fumbled in his pocket-book, and finally produced the desired
document.

"Give it to me."

"I must have the money first," said the Frenchman, shrewdly.

"Take it," said Dawkins contemptuously. "Do you judge me by yourself?"

He tore the note which he received into small pieces, and left Duval
without another word.

Sheltered by the darkness, Mr. Danforth, who had tracked the steps of
Dawkins, had been an unseen witness of this whole transaction.

XXXII.

RIGHT TRIUMPHANT.

George Dawkins resumed his duties the next morning as usual.
Notwithstanding the crime he had committed to screen himself from the
consequences of a lighter fault, he felt immeasurably relieved at the
thought that he had shaken himself free from the clutches of Duval. His
satisfaction was heightened by the disgrace and summary dismissal of
Paul, whom he had never liked. He decided to ask the place for a cousin
of his own, whose society would be more agreeable to him than that of
his late associate.

"Good-morning, sir," he said, as Mr. Danforth entered.

"Good-morning," returned his employer, coldly.

"Have you selected any one in Prescott's place, yet, sir?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because I have a cousin, Malcolm Harcourt, who would be glad to take
it."

"Indeed!" said Mr. Danforth, whose manner somewhat puzzled