"What is?" repeated Mr. Hurde, believing that the loss must have affected every one connected with the establishment as it was affecting him, and doubting whether the indifferent answer was not a negative proof of guilt. "What should it be, but this loss that has been spoken of in the Bank?" "Oh, that," returned Layton. "I dare say they will be found." "It places us all in a very awkward position, from myself downwards," went on Hurde, who was by no means a conjuror at the task he had undertaken. "There's no knowing what, or whom, Mr. Godolphin's suspicions may be turning to." "Rubbish!" retorted Layton. "It's not likely that Mr. Godolphin would begin to doubt any of us. There's no cause for doing so." "I don't know that," said Mr. Hurde significantly. "_I_ am not so sure of some of you." Layton opened his eyes. He supposed Mr. Hurde must be alluding to some one clerk in particular; must have a reason for it; but he did not glance at himself. "Why do you say that?" he asked. "Well--it has occurred to me that some one or two of you may be living at a rate that your salary would neither pay for nor justify. You for one." "I?" returned Layton. "Yes, you. Horses, and gigs, and wine, and company, and pianos! They can't be managed out of a hundred a year." Layton was rather taken to. Not to make an unnecessary mystery over it, it may as well be mentioned that all these expenses which so troubled old Hurde, the clerk was really paying for honestly, but not out of his salary. An uncle of his wife's was allowing them an addition to their income, and this supplied the additional luxuries. He resented the insinuation. "Whether they are managed out of it, or whether they are not, is no business of yours, Mr. Hurde," he said, after a pause. "I shall not come to you to pay for them, or to the Bank either." "It is my business," replied the old clerk, "It is Mr. Godolphin's business, which is the same thing. Pray, how long is it since you became a betting man?" "I am not a betting man," said Layton. "Oh, indeed! You have not bet upon Cannonbar, I suppose? You never put into a sweepstakes in your life?--you are not in one now, are you?" Layton could only open his mouth in astonishment. He thought nothing less than that the spirits--then in the height of fashion--must have been at work. He was really no betting man; had never been inclined that way: but latterly, to oblige some friend who bothered him over it, he had gone into a sweepstakes, and drawn the renowned horse, Cannonbar. And had followed it up by betting a pound upon him. "You see, Mr. Layton, your pursuits are not quite so inexpensively simple as you would wish to make them appear. These things happen to have come to my knowledge, and I have thought it my duty to mention them to Mr. Godolphin."