‘Indeed,’ said Sir Jasper.  ’And may I ask what is your opinion as to this charge?  I never knew a young man enlist with fifteen pounds in his pocket.’

’Spent it by the way, sir.  Ran through it at billiards.  Nothing more probable; it is the way with those sober-looking lads when something upsets them.  Then when luck went against him, enlisted out of despair.  Sister, like all women, ready to lie through thick and thin to save him, most likely even on oath.’

‘However,’ said Sir Jasper, ’I can produce independent witness that the youngest boy set off with the letter for the office, and the porter not admitting him, carried it to the house.’

‘What became of it then?’

’Mr. Stebbing will have to answer that.  I propose to lay the evidence before him in his own house, so that he may make inquiry, and perhaps find it, and drop the prosecution.  Will you come with me?’

’Certainly, Sir Jasper.  I should be very glad to think as you do.  I came prepared to act kindly by these children, the only relations I have in the world; but I confess that what I have seen and heard has made me fear that they, at least the elder ones, are intriguing and undeserving.  I should be glad of any proof to the contrary.’

Carrara was not far off, and they were just in time to catch Mr. Stebbing in his arm-chair, looking over his newspaper, before repairing to his office.  Mrs. Stebbing stood up, half-flattered, half-fluttered, at the call of this stately gentleman, and was scarcely prepared to hear him say—–­

’I have come down about this affair of young White’s.  His father was my friend and brother-officer, and I am very anxious about him.’

‘I have been greatly disappointed in those young people, Sir Jasper,’ said Mr. Stebbing uneasily.

’I understand that you are intending to prosecute Alexis White for the disappearance of the fifteen pounds he received on behalf of the firm.’

’Exactly so, Sir Jasper.  There’s no doubt that the carter, Field, handed it to him; he acknowledges as much, but he would have us believe that after running away with it, he returned it to his sister to send to me.  Where is it?  I ask.’

‘Yes,’ put in Mrs. Stebbing, ’and the girl, the little one, changed a five-pound note at Glover’s.’

‘I can account for that,’ said Mr. White, with somewhat of an effort.  ‘I gave her one for her sister, and charged them not to mention it.’

He certainly seemed ashamed to mention it before those who accounted it a weakness; and Sir Jasper broke the silence by proposing to produce his witnesses.

‘Really, Sir Jasper, this should be left for the court,’ said Mr. Stebbing.

’It might be well to settle the matter in private, without dragging Miss White into Avoncester away from her dying mother.’

‘Those things are so exaggerated,’ said the lady.

‘I have seen her,’ said Sir Jasper gravely.