“Yes, sir,” said Herbert, firmly.

“What, then, does Thomas mean when he asserts that he saw you do so?”

“I don’t know, sir.  I think he means to injure me, as I have noticed ever since I entered the office that he seems to dislike me.”

“How is that, Thomas?  Do you again declare that you saw Herbert pick up the wallet?

“I do,” said Tom, boldly.  “Of course, I expected that he would deny it.  I leave it to you, sir, if he does not show his guilt in his face?  Just look at him!”

Now it, unfortunately for Herbert, happened that his indignation had brought a flush to his face, and he certainly did look as a guilty person is supposed to do.  Mr. Godfrey observed this, and his heart sank within him, for, unable to conceive of such wickedness as Tom’s, he saw no other way except to believe in Herbert’s guilt.

“Have you nothing to say, Herbert?” he asked, more in sorrow than in anger.

“No, sir,” said Herbert, in a low voice; “nothing, except what I have already said.  Tom has uttered a wicked falsehood, and he knows it.”

“Of course, I expected you would say that,” said Tom, with effrontery.

“This is a serious charge, Herbert,” proceeded Mr. Godfrey.  “I shall have to ask you to produce whatever you have in your pockets.”

“Certainly, sir,” said our hero, calmly.

But, as he spoke, it flashed upon him that he had in his pocket twenty-six dollars, and the discovery of this sum would be likely to involve him in suspicion.  He could, indeed, explain where he got it; but would his explanation be believed?  Under present circumstances, he feared that it would not.  So it was with a sinking heart that he drew out the contents of his pockets, and among them his own pocketbook.

“Is that yours?” asked Mr. Godfrey, turning to Mr. Walton.

“No, it is not; but he may have transferred my money to it.”

Upon this hint, Mr. Godfrey opened the pocketbook, and drew out the small roll of bills, which he proceeded to count.

“Twenty-six dollars,” he said.  “How much did you lose?”

“Between twenty and thirty dollars.  I cannot be sure how much.”

“Here are two tens and three twos.”

“I had two tens.  I don’t remember the denomination of the other bills.”

Even Tom was struck with astonishment at this discovery.  He knew that his charge was groundless, yet here it was substantiated in a very remarkable manner.  Was it possible that he had, after all, struck upon the truth of the matter?  He did not know what to think.

“Herbert,” said his employer, sorrowfully, “this discovery gives me more pain than I can express.  I had a very high idea of you.  I could not have believed you capable of so mean a thing as deliberate dishonesty.”

“I am not guilty,” said Herbert, proudly.

“How can you say this in the face of all this evidence?  Do you mean to say that this money is yours?”