Each day, going up and down, to and from the stranger’s room, he had to pass through the office of one Sampson Brass, attorney; who, through the agency of Quilp, who was Sampson Brass’s best client, was prejudiced against Kit, and pledged to the little dwarf to do him all the injury that he could, for venomous little Quilp had never forgiven the boy who had been connected with his ruined client, and had called him “the ugliest dwarf to be seen for a penny”; and he desired vengeance at any cost.

Every time that Kit passed through the office, Mr. Brass spoke kindly to him, and not seldom gave him half-crowns, which made Kit, who from the first had disliked the man, think that he had misjudged him.  Then one day when Kit had been minding the office a few moments for Mr. Brass, and was running towards home, in haste to do his work there, Mr. Brass and his clerk, Dick Swiveller, rushed out after him.

“Stop!” cried Sampson, laying his hand on one shoulder, while Mr. Swiveller pounced upon the other.  “Not so fast, sir.  You’re in a hurry?”

“Yes, I am,” said Kit, looking from one to the other in great surprise.

“I—­I—­can hardly believe it,” panted Sampson, “but something of value is missing from the office.  I hope you don’t know what.”

“Know what! good heaven, Mr. Brass!” cried Kit, trembling from head to foot; “you don’t suppose——­”

“No, no,” rejoined Brass, quickly, “I don’t suppose anything.  You will come back quietly, I hope?”

“Of course I will,” returned Kit.  “Why not?”

Kit did turn from white to red, and from red to white again, when they secured him, each by an arm, and for a moment he seemed disposed to resist.  But, quickly recollecting himself, and remembering that if he made any struggle, he would perhaps be dragged by the collar through the public streets, he suffered them to lead him off.

“Now, you know,” said Brass, when they had entered the office, and locked the door, “if this is a case of innocence, Christopher, the fullest disclosure is the best satisfaction for everybody.  Therefore, if you’ll consent to an examination, it will be a comfortable and pleasant thing for all parties.”

“SEARCH ME” said Kit, proudly, holding up his arms.  “But mind, sir,—­I know you’ll be sorry for this to the last day of your life.”

“It is certainly a very painful occurrence,” said Brass, with a sigh, but commencing the search with vigour.  All at once an exclamation from Dick Swiveller and Miss Brass, Sampson’s sister, who was also present, cut the lawyer short He turned his head, and saw Dick, who had been holding Kit’s hat, standing with the missing bank-note in his hand.

“In the hat?” cried Brass, in a sort of shriek, “Under the handkerchief, and tucked beneath the lining,” said Mr. Swiveller, aghast, at the discovery.  Mr. Brass looked at him, at his sister, at the walls, at the ceiling, at the floor, everywhere but at Kit, who stood quite stupefied and motionless.