‘H’m!’ he said, ‘that’s awkward, too. I forgot to tell you, but the rummest thing in the world occurred yesterday. When I got back after seeing you, I gave Smith a note for Grigg and Limpet, with the money in it, to take at once. “Grigg and Limpet,” he says, looking at the address, “why that’s where my landlord is.” Of course I asked him a question or two then, and it turns out this greenhorn of mine is lodging with a man named Duck, one of Grigg and Limpet’s clerks.’ ‘That’s awkward. He may have said something already,’ said Marston, looking grave. ‘Not he; he’s a gentleman,’ answered Mr. Brooks; ‘so I knew how to tackle him. “Mr. Smith,” I said, “you occupy a post of confidence with the firm, which will lead, I hope, one day to great things. I need hardly tell you, Mr. Smith, that, in our business, confidence between employer and employed is necessary. I trust you do not talk with your landlord about the business of the firm?” ‘He stammered and blushed, and said he might have said something, but not lately. I told him to take the note and put it in the firm’s letter-box and come away, but on no account to mention to any one from whom he came, and not to breathe a word to his landlord that our firms had business together. He promised.’ ‘But how do you know he didn’t?’ ‘My dear fellow,’ said Mr. Brooks, ‘he’s as honest and innocent as a baby. I’d trust him with anything. He kept his word, I’ll swear; but still I don’t think, under the circumstances, it will be advisable to send him to cash Grigg and Limpet’s cheque.’ ‘Certainly not,’ said Marston; ‘and what’s more, you must get him away from here at once, and away from his lodgings. He’s a link, and I hate links. Directly a link is established, if a clever man doesn’t find it, a fool will blunder on to it. He must be got out of the way at once.’ Mr. Brooks recognised the necessity of removing the ‘link’ at once. Duck would be sure to hear of the forgery on his masters, and George’s very greenness might furnish a clue to the whole thing at any moment. ‘In the mean time,’ asked Marston, pacing the room impatiently, ‘who’s going to cash this cheque? Will you?’ Mr. Brooks hesitated, and humm’d and ha’d. It might be dangerous. He might be detained, and he had no idea of being detained. If George had been detained it wouldn’t have mattered. They would all have time to clear out. No; on consideration it wouldn’t do at all for him to take the cheque. They were on the horns of a dilemma now, and it was necessary to act at once. The person presenting the cheque must be a gentlemanly person to inspire confidence, and there wasn’t one of the regular gang they could trust. Suddenly Marston brought his fist down on the table. ‘I have it,’ he exclaimed. ‘There’s only one way. This follow must present the cheque and bring the money back to you.’ ‘Yes; but suppose he talks about it to Grigg and Limpet’s clerk when he goes home?’ ‘He won’t talk about it.’ ‘What do you mean?’