“When I ask for your opinion upon ‘who has helped themselves to it,’ it will be time enough to give it me,” returned Mr. Galloway, drily. “I say that the money was taken from the letter before it left this office, when it was under the charge of you and Channing.” “I hope you do not suspect us of taking it, sir!” said Roland, going into a heat. “I suspect that you have been guilty of negligence in some way, Mr. Roland. Could the bank-note drop out of the letter of itself?” “I suppose it could not, sir.” “Good! Then it is my business to ascertain, if I can, how it did get out of it. You have not answered my question. Who came into this office, while Channing was at the cathedral, on Friday afternoon?” “I declare nobody ever had such luck as I,” burst forth Roland, in a tone half comic, half defiant, as he felt he must make a merit of necessity, and confess. “If I get into the smallest scrape in the world, it is safe to come out. The fact is, sir, I was not here, last Friday afternoon, during Channing’s hour for college.” “What! not at all?” exclaimed Mr. Galloway, who had not suspected that Yorke was absent so long. “As I say, it’s my luck to be found out!” grumbled Roland. “I can’t lift a finger to-day, if it ought not to be lifted, but it is known to-morrow. I saw one of my chums going past the end of the street, sir, and I ran after him. And I am sorry to say I was seduced into stopping out with him longer than I ought to have done.” Mr. Galloway stared at Roland. “At what time did you go out?” he asked. “Just after you did, sir. The bell was going for college.” “And pray what time did you come in again?” “Well, sir, you saw me come in. It was getting on for five o’clock.” “Do you mean to say you had not been in at all, between those hours!” “It was Knivett’s fault,” grumbled Roland. “He kept me.” Mr. Galloway sat drumming on his desk, apparently gazing at Roland; in reality thinking. To hear that Mr. Roland Yorke had taken French leave for nearly a whole afternoon, just on the especial afternoon that he ought not to have taken it--Jenkins being away--did not surprise him in the least; it was very much in the line of the Yorkes to do so. To scold or punish Roland for it, would have been productive of little good, since he was sure to do it again the very next time the temptation offered itself. Failing temptation, he would remain at his post steadily enough. No; it was not Roland’s escapade that Mr. Galloway was considering; but the very narrow radius that the affair of the letter appeared to be drawing itself into. If Roland was absent, he could not have had half the town in, to chatter; and if Arthur Channing asserted that none had been in, Mr. Galloway could give credence to Arthur. But then--how had the money disappeared? Who had taken it? “Channing!” he called out, loudly and sharply. Arthur, who was preparing to attend the cathedral, for the bell had rung out, hastened in.