The time went on, and it was the hour for closing the doors. Thickens had had to go in and out of the manager's room several times, and Hallam was always busy writing letters. He looked up, and answered questions, or gave instructions, and then went on again, while each time, when James Thickens came out, he looked more uneasy. That is to say, to any one who thoroughly understood James Thickens, he would have looked uneasy. To a stranger he would only have seemed peculiar, for involuntarily at such times he had a habit of moving his scalp very slowly, drawing his hair down over his forehead, while his eyebrows rose up to meet it. Then, with mechanical regularity, they separated again; and all the while his eyes were fixed, and seemed to be gazing at something that was not there. "You need not wait, Thickens," said Hallam, opening his door at length. "I want to finish a few letters." The clerk rose and left the place after his customary walk round with keys, and the transferring of certain moneys to the safe; and, as soon as he was gone, Hallam locked his door communicating with the house, and began to busy himself in the safe, examining docketed securities, ticking them off, arranging and rearranging, hour after hour. And during those hours James Thickens seemed to be prosecuting a love affair, for, instead of going home to his tea and gold-fish, he walked down the market place for some distance, turned sharp back, knocked at a door, and was admitted. Then old Gemp, who had been sweeping his narrow horizon, put on his hat, and walked across to Mrs Pinet, who was as usual watering her geraniums, and hunting for withered leaves that did not exist. "Two weddings, Mrs P.!" he said with a leer. "Lor', Mr Gemp, what do you mean?" she exclaimed. "Two weddings, ma'am. Your Mr Hallam first, and Thickens directly after. No more bachelors at the bank, ma'am." "Why, you don't mean to say that Mr Thickens--oh, dear me!" "But I do mean to say it, ma'am. He's dropped in at Miss Heathery's as coolly as can be; and has hung his hat up behind the door." "You don't say so!" "Oh yes, I do. It's her doing. Going there four or five times a week to cash cheques, and he has grown reckless. Let's wait till he comes out." "Perhaps, then," said Mrs Pinet primly, "people may begin saying things about me." "There'll be no one to say it," said Gemp innocently. "Let's see how long he stops. I can't very well from my place." "I couldn't think of such a thing," said Mrs Pinet, grandly. "Mr Hallam will be in directly, too. No, Mr Gemp, I'm no watcher of my neighbours' affairs;" and she went indoors. "Very well, madam. _Ve-ry_ well," said Gemp. "We shall see;" and he walked back home to stand in his doorway for three hours before he saw Thickens come from where he had ensconced himself behind Miss Heathery's curtain with his eyes fixed upon the bank.