Mr. Brown walked quietly to our desk, helped himself to a sheet of paper, wrote a few lines, signed his name with a flourish, and handed the document to the commissioner.  The latter cast his eyes over it, and a grim smile mantled his dark face as he did so.

“You have done well, sir, and I think that the government will be obliged to me for thus bringing matters to a crisis; you are no longer a member of the police force at Ballarat.”

Mr. Sherwin turned to depart, but Mr. Brown, still calm and quiet, detained him.

“One word before you go.  You acknowledge that I am no longer your subordinate officer, do you not?”

The commissioner bowed stiffly, but did not deign to make reply.

“A few minutes since,” Mr. Brown went on to say, “I was accused of squandering time.  I wish to ask whether I was ever known to squander money belonging to the government?”

Had Mr. Brown fired a pistol at the head of the commissioner, the latter could not have been more astonished.  He stared upon his questioner with a bewildered air; and I could see his swarthy cheeks turn pale, as though impeachment stared him in the face for malfeasance while in office.  I knew that there were dark hints of his corruption, and that be had, in some manner not known to the public, made a fortune while he held the office of commissioner.

“What do you mean?” demanded Sherwin at length; and even while he spoke his voice was husky and tremulous.

“I asked a simple question, and it requires some time and consideration on your part to make an answer, it appears.  I will repeat the question.  Did you ever know me to squander money belonging to the government, and fail to give an account of it?”

“Do you dare insinuate aught against me in my official capacity?” cried the commissioner, stepping towards his late officer with a threatening brow.

“Have I said a word that should cause you to feel aggrieved?  Do my words apply to you in any way or form?” Mr. Brown exclaimed, without flinching from the withering look that was cast upon him.

“I know what you mean; and if you dare to accuse me of peculation while in office; I will brand you as a liar!”

The belligerents were not more than five feet apart; and I expected to see some brisk work for a few minutes, but Fred passed between them, and prevented a collision that seemed inevitable.

“You have met in the store,” said Fred, “on what we call neutral ground, and therefore we cannot permit this quarrel to go any farther.  If you have, unfortunately, differences which must be settled, do not involve us, for remember, we are friends to both.”

“You speak wisely,” Mr. Sherwin said, after a moment’s thought, during which time he recovered his composure; “I was foolish to get angry at any words that might be addressed to me by that gentleman.  I have known him long, and suffered severely from his vindictive temper.  His claws are now cut, and he is powerless.”