Part 87 (2/2)

Layton could only open his mouth in astonishment. He thought nothing less than that the spirits--then in the height of fas.h.i.+on--must have been at work. He was really no betting man; had never been inclined that way: but latterly, to oblige some friend who bothered him over it, he had gone into a sweepstakes, and drawn the renowned horse, Cannonbar.

And had followed it up by betting a pound upon him.

”You see, Mr. Layton, your pursuits are not quite so inexpensively simple as you would wish to make them appear. These things happen to have come to my knowledge, and I have thought it my duty to mention them to Mr. G.o.dolphin.”

Layton flew into a pa.s.sion. Partly in soreness of feeling at finding he had been so closely looked after; partly in anger that dishonesty could be a.s.sociated with him; and chiefly at hearing that he had been obnoxiously reported, to Mr. G.o.dolphin. ”Have you told _him_,” he foamed, ”that you suspect me of robbing the strong-room?”

”Some one has robbed it,” was Mr. Hurde's rejoinder. ”And has no doubt made money of the deeds he stole!”

”I ask if you have told Mr. G.o.dolphin that you cast this suspicion to me?” reiterated Layton, stamping his foot.

”What if I have? Appearances, in my opinion, would warrant my casting it to you.”

”Then you had better cast it to Mr. George G.o.dolphin. There!”

But that they were completely absorbed in the dispute, their voices raised--at least, Layton's--they might have seen Mr. G.o.dolphin close to them. In pa.s.sing through the Bank from his carriage to his private room--for, in the untoward state of affairs, touching the loss, he had come betimes--he was attracted by the angry sounds, and turned towards them.

”Is anything the matter?”

They looked round, saw Mr. G.o.dolphin, and their voices and tempers dropped to a calm. Neither appeared inclined to answer the question, and Mr. G.o.dolphin pa.s.sed on. Another minute or two, and a message came from him, commanding the presence of the chief clerk.

”Hurde,” he began, ”have you been speaking to Layton of what you mentioned to me last night?”

”Yes, sir, that's what it was. It put him into a pa.s.sion.”

”He repudiates the suspicion, I suppose?”

”Out-and-out, sir,” was the answer of Mr. Hurde. ”He says his wife has an income, independent of himself; and that he put into a sweepstakes lately to oblige a friend, and staked a sovereign on the horse he drew.

He says it is all he ever staked in his life, and all he ever means to stake. He was saying this now, when you sent for me. I don't know what to think. He speaks honestly enough, to listen to him.”

”What remark did I hear him making, relative to Mr. George G.o.dolphin?”

”He ought to be punished for that,” replied Mr. Hurde. ”Better suspect Mr. George than suspect him, was what he said. I don't know what he meant, and I don't think he knew himself, sir.”

”Why did he say it?”

”When men are beside themselves with pa.s.sion, sir, they say anything that comes uppermost. I asked him, after you went, what he meant by it, but he would not say any more.”

”I think you must be mistaken in suspecting Layton, Hurde. I thought so last night.”

”Well, sir, I may be,” acknowledged Hurde. ”I don't feel so sure of it as I did. But then comes the old puzzle again as to who could have taken the deeds. Layton would not have been so fierce but that he found the doubt had been mentioned to you,” added Mr. Hurde, returning to the subject of the clerk's anger.

”Did you tell him you had mentioned it?”

”Yes, sir, I did. It's not my way to conceal faults in a corner; and that the clerks know.”

Mr. G.o.dolphin dropped the subject, and entered upon some general business. The old clerk remained with him about ten minutes, and then was at liberty to withdraw.

”Send Layton to me,” was the order as he went out. And the clerk appeared in obedience to it.

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