Part 6 (1/2)

”Pardon me, Captain Cameron. Allow me,” said Mr. Rae.

”Now, Mr. Allan, do you think you owed him as much as the amount of that cheque?”

”I do not know, but I think so.”

”Had you any other money?”

”No,” said Allan shortly; ”at least I may have had a little remaining from the five pounds I had received from my father a few days before.”

”You are quite sure you had no other money?”

”Quite certain,” replied Allan.

Again Mr. Rae opened his desk and drew forth a slip and handed it to young Cameron. ”What is that?” he said.

Cameron glanced at it hurriedly, and turned it over. ”That is my father's cheque for five pounds, which I cashed.”

Mr. Rae stretched out his hand and took the cheque. ”Mr. Allan,” he said, ”I want you to consider most carefully your answer.” He leaned across the desk and for some moments--they seemed like minutes to Dunn--his eyes searched young Cameron's face. ”Mr. Allan,” he said, with a swift change of tone, his voice trembling slightly, ”will you look at the amount of that cheque again?”

Cameron once more took the cheque, glanced at it. ”Good Lord!” he cried.

”It is fifty!” His face showed blank amazement.

Quick, low, and stern came Mr. Rae's voice. ”Yes,” he said, ”it is for fifty pounds. Do you know that that is a forgery, the punishment for which is penal servitude, and that the order for your arrest is already given?”

The Captain sprang to his feet. Young Cameron's face became ghastly pale. His hand clutched the top of Mr. Rae's desk. Twice or thrice he moistened his lips preparing to speak, but uttered not a word. ”Good G.o.d, my boy!” said the Captain hoa.r.s.ely. ”Don't stand like that. Tell him you are innocent.”

”One moment, Sir,” said Mr. Rae to the Captain. ”Permit me.” Mr. Rae's voice, while perfectly courteous, was calmly authoritative.

”Mr. Allan,” he continued, turning to the wretched young man, ”what money have you at present in your pockets?”

With shaking hands young Cameron emptied upon the desk the contents of his pocketbook, from which the lawyer counted out ten one-pound notes, a half-sovereign and some silver. ”Where did you get this money, Mr.

Allan?”

The young man, still silent, drew his handkerchief from his pocket, touched his lips, and wiped the sweat from his white face.

”Mr. Allan,” continued the lawyer, dropping again into a kindly voice, ”a frank explanation will help us all.”

”Mr. Rae,” said Cameron, his words coming with painful indistinctness, ”I don't understand this. I can't think clearly. I can't remember. That money I got from Potts; at least I must have--I have had money from no one else.”

”My G.o.d!” cried the Captain again. ”To think that a son of mine should--!”

”Pardon me, Captain Cameron,” interrupted Mr. Rae quickly and somewhat sharply. ”We must not prejudge this case. We must first understand it.”

At this point Dunn stepped swiftly to Cameron's side. ”Brace up, old chap,” he said in a low tone. Then turning towards the Captain he said, ”I beg your pardon, Sir, but I do think it's only fair to give a man a chance to explain.”

”Allow me, gentlemen,” said Mr. Rae in a firm, quiet voice, as the Captain was about to break forth. ”Allow me to conduct this examination.”

Cameron turned his face toward Dunn. ”Thank you, old man,” he said, his white lips quivering. ”I will do my best, but before G.o.d, I don't understand this.”

”Now, Mr. Allan,” continued the lawyer, tapping the desk sharply, ”here are two cheques for fifty pounds, both drawn by your father, both endorsed by you, one apparently cashed by Mr. Potts, one by yourself.