" Then, going close up to the lad, he said in a
cool, deliberate tone, "I saw you take the money out of that box."
'"Old villain, you lie!"
'"George!" cried the Doctor in an angry tone, lifting his pale face
from between his supporting hands, "how dare you use such language to
my friend--my father's friend?"
'"No friend to you, sir, when he charges your son with a crime he never
committed. I spoke rashly; anger is always intemperate. You must make
some allowance for my just indignation." Again he turned and confronted
his grey-haired accuser: "You saw me take the money out of that box?
When did I take it?"
'"Last Friday afternoon. You came into the study while I was writing
out a receipt at my desk. You were in a great hurry; I don't think you
saw me."
'"I did see you."
'"Ha!" cried the Rector, who was now sitting upright in his chair,
intently listening to the conversation. "You own, then, that you were
in the study at that hour?"
'"I have no wish to conceal the fact," returned George.
'"It would be of little use his attempting to deny it," said Ralph,
pointedly. "He came in and took the key of the box from the hook on
which it always hangs."
'"I did not take the key of the box; in that, at least, you are under a
strange delusion."
'"O Master George!" Ralph shook his head, and raised his hands in pious
horror.
'"Where did he go, Ralph, when he left the study?" asked Dr. Leatrim.
'"I am not quite certain, sir.
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