Walter.  Well, we can’t be too careful.

Cokeson.  It’s such a little thing—­hardly worth the fees.  I thought you’d do it yourself.

Walter.  Send it, please.  I don’t want the responsibility.

Cokeson. [With an indescribable air of compassion] Just as you like.  This “right-of-way” case—­we’ve got ’em on the deeds.

Walter.  I know; but the intention was obviously to exclude that bit of common ground.

Cokeson.  We needn’t worry about that.  We’re the right side of the law.

Walter.  I don’t like it,

Cokeson. [With an indulgent smile] We shan’t want to set ourselves up against the law.  Your father wouldn’t waste his time doing that.

     As he speaks James How comes in from the partners’ room.  He is
     a shortish man, with white side-whiskers, plentiful grey hair,
     shrewd eyes, and gold pince-nez.

James.  Morning, Walter.

Walter.  How are you, father?

Cokeson. [Looking down his nose at the papers in his hand as though deprecating their size] I’ll just take Boulter’s lease in to young Falder to draft the instructions. [He goes out into Falder’s room.]

Walter.  About that right-of-way case?

James.  Oh, well, we must go forward there.  I thought you told me yesterday the firm’s balance was over four hundred.

Walter.  So it is.

James. [Holding out the pass-book to his son] Three—­five—­one, no recent cheques.  Just get me out the cheque-book.

     Walter goes to a cupboard, unlocks a drawer and produces a
     cheque-book.

James.  Tick the pounds in the counterfoils.  Five, fifty-four, seven, five, twenty-eight, twenty, ninety, eleven, fifty-two, seventy-one.  Tally?

Walter. [Nodding] Can’t understand.  Made sure it was over four hundred.

James.  Give me the cheque-book. [He takes the check-book and cons the counterfoils] What’s this ninety?

Walter.  Who drew it?

James.  You.

Walter. [Taking the cheque-book] July 7th?  That’s the day I went down to look over the Trenton Estate—­last Friday week; I came back on the Tuesday, you remember.  But look here, father, it was nine I drew a cheque for.  Five guineas to Smithers and my expenses.  It just covered all but half a crown.

James. [Gravely] Let’s look at that ninety cheque. [He sorts the cheque out from the bundle in the pocket of the pass-book] Seems all right.  There’s no nine here.  This is bad.  Who cashed that nine-pound cheque?

Walter. [Puzzled and pained] Let’s see!  I was finishing Mrs. Reddy’s will—­only just had time; yes—­I gave it to Cokeson.

James.  Look at that ‘t’ ‘y’:  that yours?