before their
ledgers. At last he gave an "Ah!" as of satisfaction. Indeed, he had
seen Sir Barnes Newcome enter into the bank.

The Baronet stopped and spoke with a clerk, and presently entered,
followed by that young gentleman into his private parlour. Barnes
tried to grin when he saw his uncle, and held out his hand to greet
the Colonel; but the Colonel put both his behind his back--that which
carried his faithful bamboo cane shook nervously. Barnes was aware that
the Colonel had the news. "I was going to--to write to you this morning,
with--with some intelligence that I am--very--very sorry to give."

"This young gentleman is one of your clerks?" asked Thomas Newcome,
blandly.

"Yes; Mr. Boltby, who has your private account. This is Colonel Newcome,
Mr. Boltby," says Sir Barnes, in some wonder.

"Mr. Boltby, brother Hobson, you heard what Sir Barnes Newcome said just
now respecting certain intelligence which he grieved to give me?"

At this the three other gentlemen respectively wore looks of amazement.

"Allow me to say in your presence, that I don't believe one single word
Sir Barnes Newcome says, when he tells me that he is very sorry for
some intelligence he has to communicate. He lies, Mr. Boltby; he is very
glad. I made up my mind that in whatsoever company I met him, and on
the very first day I found him--hold your tongue, sir; you shall speak
afterwards and tell more lies when I have done--I made up my mind, I
say, that on the very first occasion I would tell Sir Barnes Newcome
that he was a liar and a cheat. He takes charge of letters and keeps
them back. Did you break the seal, sir? There was nothing to steal in my
letter to Miss Newcome. He tells me people are out of town, when he goes
to see in the next street, after leaving my table, and whom I see myself
half an hour before he lies to me about their absence."

"D--n you, go out, and don't stand staring there, you booby!" screams
out Sir Barnes to the clerk. "Stop, Boltby. Colonel Newcome, unless you
leave this room I shall--I shall----"

"You shall call a policeman. Send for the gentleman, and I will tell
the Lord Mayor what I think of Sir Barnes Newcome, Baronet. Mr. Boltby,
shall we have the constable in?"

"Sir, you are an old man, and my father's brother, or you know very well
I would----"

"You would what, Sir? Upon my word, Barnes Newcome" (here the Colonel's
two hands and the bamboo cane came from the rear and formed in front),
"but