Part 2 (1/2)

'”Where did he go, Ralph, when he left the study?” asked Dr. Leatrim.

'”I am not quite certain, sir. I think he went first into the garden, and then across the road into the churchyard. When he took down the key, he seemed very much confused. There was a look in his eyes which made me mistrust him, and I went to the window, which commands a view of the inside of the porch. If you come here, sir,” continued Ralph, advancing to the window, ”you will see everything as plainly as if you were there.”

'”I know it.”

'”Well, sir, I saw Master George take down the box, place it on the bench by the door, unlock it, and take out something. You may guess what that was, for he was some minutes examining the contents.”

'George Leatrim turned very pale, and visibly trembled; but he never took his eyes from the old man's face.

'”George Leatrim,” said the Doctor, ”you are now at liberty to give your explanation of this extraordinary conduct. I charge you to answer truly the questions I put to you. I do not mean to condemn you unheard.

What did you want in the study last Friday afternoon?”

'”I went there to seek you, and not finding you, I took down the key of the iron gates that open into the porch of the church, and went to look for you in the garden.”

'”What did you want with me?”

'”You gave me on my birthday a silver crown piece.”

'”I did so. My father gave it to me when a boy of your age. It was one of the coins struck in commemoration of George III's coronation. What of that?”

'”I wished to give it to G.o.d. I went into the study to ask your permission to do so, as it was a present from you. I found Ralph Wilson writing, as he says, and you absent. I took the key of the church--not of the poor's box, as he affirms, for I could make my deposit without that--and went into the garden, hoping to find you there. I then made up my mind to put the piece into the box, as it was getting late. This I did without taking down the box, a fact which that man knows as well as I do. I returned to the study and replaced the large iron key. Ralph was no longer there. This is the truth--the whole truth; so help me G.o.d!”

'The lad, before so calm, now flung himself in an agony of tears at his father's feet, and clasping his knees, cried out in piteous tones, ”Father, do you believe me?”

'The Doctor pushed him aside. ”The evidence is too strong against you.

I wish I could.”

'”Father, did I ever deceive you?”

'”Never, that I am conscious of, until now.”

'”Did you ever detect me in an act of dishonesty?”

'”Never.”

'”Then how can you condemn me? You will say, upon the evidence of this _honest_ man. Am I not as worthy of belief as Ralph Wilson?”

'”His character is above suspicion.”

'”So ought mine to be,” said the lad proudly.

'”Ralph is incapable of falsehood. How dare you to insinuate that he could be capable of such a crime? What inducement could that pious, grey-headed old man have for slandering the son of his friend and benefactor? I am so certain of his fidelity, that I know he would rather bear the brand of shame than bring dishonour upon me and mine.”

'”It is strange,” mused George, unconsciously uttering his thoughts aloud, and half repenting the harsh language he had used to the old servant. ”If he has not plotted this accusation against me to hide his own guilt, he has made a grievous mistake.”

'”It is no mistake!” cried Ralph indignantly. ”I saw you take the money. You can't persuade me out of my senses. I have borne an honest character all my life. It is not a beardless boy that can rob me of it in my old age.”

'”It may be possible, Ralph, that you were mistaken,” said Dr. Leatrim, after a long and painful silence, in which he had been summing up the evidence on both sides. ”The boy's account of himself is very clear.