I looked at it as scrutinizingly as I usually do at such paper. The major's signature was familiar to me; but having succeeded to a great estate, he has long ceased to be a customer. I instantly detected a forgery; by whom? was the question. Could it be the man before me?--experience told me it was not. Perhaps there was something in the expression of my countenance which Mr. Axminster did not like, for he said, "It is good for the amount, I presume?" I replied, "Pray, sir, from whom did you get this bill?" "From Miss Snape herself." "Have you circulated any other bills made by the same drawer?" "O yes!" said the draper, without hesitation; "I have paid away a bill for one hundred pounds to Mr. Sparkle, the jeweler, to whom Miss Snape owed twenty pounds. They gave me the difference." "And how long has that bill to run now?" "About a fortnight." "Did you endorse it?" "I did," continued the shopman. "Mr. Sparkle required me to do so, to show that the bill came properly into his possession." "This second bill, you say, is urgently required to enable Miss Snape to leave town?" "Yes; she is going to Brighton for the winter." I gave Mr. Axminster a steady, piercing look of inquiry. "Pray, sir," I said, "could you meet that one hundred pounds bill, supposing it should not be paid by the acceptor?" "Meet it?" The poor fellow wiped from his forehead the perspiration which suddenly broke out at the bare hint of a probability that the bill would be dishonored: "Meet it? O no! I am a married man, with a family, and have nothing but my salary to depend on." "Then, the sooner you get it taken up, and the less you have to do with Miss Snape's bill affairs, the better." "She has always been punctual hitherto." "That may be." I pointed to the cross-writing on the document, and said deliberately, "_This_ bill is a forgery!" At these words the poor man turned pale. He snatched up the document; and, with many incoherent protestations, was rushing toward the door, when I called to him, in an authoritative tone, to stop. He paused. His manner indicating not only doubt, but fear. I said to him, "Don't flurry yourself; I only want to serve you. You tell me that you are a married man with children, dependent on daily labor for daily bread; and that you have done a little discounting for Miss Snape out of your earnings. Now, although I am a bill discounter, I don't like to see such men victimized. Look at the body of this bill: look at the signature of your lady customer, the drawer. Don't you detect the same fine, thin, sharp-pointed handwriting in the words, 'Accepted, Dymmock Munge.'" The man, convinced against his will, was at first overcome. When he recovered, he raved: he would expose the Honorable Miss Snape, if it cost him his bread: he would go at once to the police office.