Layton flew into a passion. Partly in soreness of feeling at finding he had been so closely looked after; partly in anger that dishonesty could be associated with him; and chiefly at hearing that he had been obnoxiously reported, to Mr. Godolphin. "Have you told _him_," he foamed, "that you suspect me of robbing the strong-room?" "Some one has robbed it," was Mr. Hurde's rejoinder. "And has no doubt made money of the deeds he stole!" "I ask if you have told Mr. Godolphin that you cast this suspicion to me?" reiterated Layton, stamping his foot. "What if I have? Appearances, in my opinion, would warrant my casting it to you." "Then you had better cast it to Mr. George Godolphin. There!" But that they were completely absorbed in the dispute, their voices raised--at least, Layton's--they might have seen Mr. Godolphin close to them. In passing through the Bank from his carriage to his private room--for, in the untoward state of affairs, touching the loss, he had come betimes--he was attracted by the angry sounds, and turned towards them. "Is anything the matter?" They looked round, saw Mr. Godolphin, and their voices and tempers dropped to a calm. Neither appeared inclined to answer the question, and Mr. Godolphin passed on. Another minute or two, and a message came from him, commanding the presence of the chief clerk. "Hurde," he began, "have you been speaking to Layton of what you mentioned to me last night?" "Yes, sir, that's what it was. It put him into a passion." "He repudiates the suspicion, I suppose?" "Out-and-out, sir," was the answer of Mr. Hurde. "He says his wife has an income, independent of himself; and that he put into a sweepstakes lately to oblige a friend, and staked a sovereign on the horse he drew. He says it is all he ever staked in his life, and all he ever means to stake. He was saying this now, when you sent for me. I don't know what to think. He speaks honestly enough, to listen to him." "What remark did I hear him making, relative to Mr. George Godolphin?" "He ought to be punished for that," replied Mr. Hurde. "Better suspect Mr. George than suspect him, was what he said. I don't know what he meant, and I don't think he knew himself, sir." "Why did he say it?" "When men are beside themselves with passion, sir, they say anything that comes uppermost. I asked him, after you went, what he meant by it, but he would not say any more." "I think you must be mistaken in suspecting Layton, Hurde. I thought so last night." "Well, sir, I may be," acknowledged Hurde. "I don't feel so sure of it as I did. But then comes the old puzzle again as to who could have taken the deeds. Layton would not have been so fierce but that he found the doubt had been mentioned to you," added Mr. Hurde, returning to the subject of the clerk's anger. "Did you tell him you had mentioned it?" "Yes, sir, I did. It's not my way to conceal faults in a corner; and that the clerks know."