Mr. Rawter now arose and came forward, placing his arm across Bellair’s shoulder. The latter winced, but not physically. For an instant it had fired and fogged him. “Bellair, my boy, on the face of it--this that you ask would seem very simple,” he began. “I would ask it in your case, but think of us. By misunderstanding, we let out the fact that you had gone with funds not your own.... You were away. We looked for you everywhere before this happened----” “You let it out,” said Bellair. “It is very simple. Call it in again----” “It isn’t so simple.” “I might come back to work for you,” Bellair added, “and those who knew would say, ‘He hadn’t anything. Instead of locking him up, Lot & Company took him back to work out what he had taken----’” “I might give you a personal letter, saying I was very sorry, that in the bewilderment of the moment, we jumped at the conclusion that you were identified with the missing funds----” “But the funds were not missing. You could not look into the vault-box without finding my letter.” “Our funds were not all in that box, Bellair.” “They would know by next morning, if I had broken into your bank----” Mr. Nathan appeared to be gone from them, his eyes softened with visions. “Write him the letter, Mr. Rawter----” suggested Mr. Jabez. It struck Bellair like a hated odour--this tool for unclean work, Rawter’s part in the establishment. He did not hasten now, though he knew they were waiting for his answer. The head of the sales resumed: “Yes, I will do this gladly--in fact, it would relieve my mind to do this in the most cordial terms, but I would be interested first in learning just what disposition of it was intended----” “It would be mine,” said Bellair. “Of course, I should use it as I thought fit.” “I was thinking--in adjusting the tone of the letter, the wording, you know----” “Adjust the tone--the wording--to the facts--that would seem best. But I would not accept such a letter from you personally. It would have to be written for Lot & Company----” Mr. Nathan now showed signs of coming back. “Let us have a day to think it over, Bellair,” he said. “In that case--my part is finished. I have asked to be lifted out of a shameful position. You acknowledge that I have this lift coming.” It was at this point that an inspiration arrived. “All that there is left, naturally and equitably, is for you to do your part. A man’s name is of more importance than a firm’s name, and in any event, no man nor firm was ever hurt by squaring a crooked action.” Mr. Nathan appeared to welcome the slight heat of this remark. It brought the moment nearer in which hands might be washed and the attorney summoned. But Bellair was not heated, Mr. Rawter fumed a little. “What do you mean by a man’s name being more important than a firm’s name?” he demanded. “A firm shares its responsibility. A man shoulders it alone.” “And what do you mean by your part being finished?”