'So we were made very happy; and I thought we were the luckiest couple in the world. But just then there was a discovery made at the office--a very singular discovery--I hardly know how to describe it, because it is not quite clear to me even yet. It was concerned with the buying or selling or transfer of certain stocks and shares and coupons and that kind of thing. Mr. Dering seems not to remember having signed the papers concerned. There is a fear that they are in wrong hands. There is a suspicion of forgery even. I am ashamed even to mention such a thing to you, but my lover's name has been connected with the business; and Dering's clerk, Checkley--you know Checkley?'-- 'Certainly--Dering's old servant.' 'Has openly charged George--on no evidence, to be sure--of having forged the letters or of having assisted in the forgery.' 'This is very serious.' 'It is very serious; but we do not intend to let the thing interfere with our wedding. Only, unless I can remove the last ray of suspicion before Wednesday, we shall spend our honeymoon at home, in order to watch the case from day to day.' 'Buying or selling stocks? Dering would be constantly doing that.' 'It appears that these transactions were the only things of the kind that he has done this year. That is to say, he denies having done these.' 'Well--as for these having been the only transactions of the kind, he managed a good bit of such business for me this last spring.' 'Did he? Do you remember the details of that business?' 'Clearly. It was only yesterday, so to speak.' 'Was it the purchase or transfer of stock or shares?' 'Certainly. To a very large amount. I have told you about my Industrial Village, have I not? The Village where all are to be equal--all are to work for a certain time every day, and no longer--all are to be paid in rations and clothes and houses, and there is to be no private property--my Ideal Village.' 'I know. A lovely Village.' 'It was early in the spring that I finished my designs for it. Then it occurred to me that it would be well if, instead of always going to my lawyer for money, I had a large sum at my command lying at my Bank. So I instructed Dering to transfer to my name a great quantity of stocks lying in his name. He was a trustee or a--well--it is rather unusual, but I like having all my business affairs managed for me, and---- But this will not interest you'--this with the look of irritation or bewilderment which sometimes passed over his face. 'The important thing is that it was done, and that my Bank received those transfers, and has instructions to receive the dividends.' 'Oh! And has all the papers, I suppose?'