"You must really pardon me, Mr. Duncan. This thing has knocked me out a good deal--it came upon me so suddenly and unexpectedly. I make my apologies if I have said anything to offend. But is there nothing I can do to fix the thing up--so that the bank can carry it for me till I can turn around? You see these things are so customary in banks that it never occurred to me that you would insist upon the strict letter of the law." "I have taken an oath," answered Duncan, "to obey and enforce the strict letter of the law in the administration of this bank's affairs--just as you did when you were president here. _I_, at least, intend to respect my oath." "What do you require of me?" "For one thing, that you shall put your account into a shape permitted by law and warranted by prudence. In doing that, you shall have all the help the bank can properly lend you." "Tell me your exact terms," said Tandy, "and I will endeavor to comply with them." "You must comply with them, as they will be only such as it is my duty to insist upon." "What are they?" "First of all, you must to-day deposit fifteen thousand dollars, in cash or securities, to make good that bit of paper," said Duncan, holding up the three-cornered fragment of a letter sheet, on which there was written in Tandy's hand: Good for $15,000--count this as cash. N. T., Pres't. "I found that in our cash assets only this morning, Mr. Tandy. Until it turned up I had cherished the belief that your irregularities were only such as you say are customary with bank officers. I believe it is not customary, however, for the president of a bank to abstract fifteen thousand dollars of the bank's cash and substitute for it a mere pencil scribbling on a scrap of paper, signed with initials." Tandy sat gazing vacantly at Duncan, with livid lips and contorted features. He had so long been accustomed to administer the bank's affairs as suited his personal convenience that he had quite forgotten this little transaction. Recovering himself, he said presently: "That was an oversight on my part, Mr. Duncan. It was merely a matter of temporary convenience. You see, one evening after hours, I happened suddenly to need that amount in currency. I came here to the bank and got it, putting the mem. into the cash box in its stead, as there were none of the bank's officers or clerks here to take my check. Besides, I hadn't my check-book with me. I fully intended to arrange the matter before the bank opened the next morning, but somehow I forgot it. It was only an oversight, I assure you." "It was a felony," answered Duncan, in a tone as free from stress as if he had merely said, "It is raining." Then he added: "Will you make a deposit now to clear that matter up? After you do so we can go on and adjust the other matters."