Mr. Delancey waved his hand impatiently, for Arthur to precede him to his desk; then, with hasty step, and planting his cane each tread visibly on the floor, he followed him, and seating himself with formal precision, took off his hat, and leant stiffly back in his chair. "Well, sir?" Arthur would almost have as soon undergone the terrors of the Inquisition as to brave the tempest he expected soon to fall upon his devoted head. He called up all his courage, however, and began. "This afternoon, sir, I took some money from Mr. Wilkins to deposit in the bank." "Well? come, be quick." "I put it, as I thought, safely in this pocket; I went from here straight to the bank. I don't know how it happened, I'm sure I can't imagine," said Arthur, growing confused, with those stern, strong eyes staring straight into his, "but when I got to the bank I found, sir, I had lost it." "The devil you did!" "I am sorry to say it, it is true." "And what were you doing, on your way to the bank, that you hadn't an eye on that money, I'd like to know?" "The money I supposed was safe, sir, and I walked straight along without thinking about it, till I reached the bank." "A likely story that! Who did you talk to, or see, on your way? any of your companions?" "I saw only one person, sir, whom I knew at all; one whom I have not seen before for several weeks." "And that very one, I dare say, picked your pocket. What was his name? who was he?" "He is a gentleman, sir, who would not do such a thing, I'm sure, any sooner than you would. He is a friend of mine." "What is his name, I say?" "Clinton, sir. No one that you know, probably." The merchant leaned forward, and peered keenly into Arthur's face, as if to see if there was aught of hidden meaning in his words; and his features grew ashy pale while he asked, in a hoarse whisper:-- "_Clinton?_ Clinton what?" "Mr. Clinton is the only name I know him by. I haven't heard his given name," returned Arthur, surprised at the merchant's agitation. Mr. Delancey said nothing for a moment; but sat leaning forward, with his pale face dropped in thought upon his breast. "Did he talk with you long?" he asked, at last. "No, sir. He walked with me one block." "You had the money when he left you?" "I did not touch it from here to the bank, sir; and knew nothing of it from the time I left this door, till I reached the bank counter." "Hem! yes, yes, a very likely story. It couldn't have got out of your pocket without hands, young man; and if your friend wouldn't do such a thing, and your pocket was safe, I don't think but what you know something about it." "Me, sir? Mr. Delancey, you don't mean to say--" "Tut, tut, I know about you young chaps; I might have known I would have just such trouble when I took you, I suppose you think I don't know that Henriquez's billiard table is between here and the bank, eh?" "If you do, you know more than I do, sir."