o carried on the business under cover
of my name. He posed as the friend of Mr. Leroy, and by means of
forgeries, and cooked accounts, he has managed to acquire control of
your entire revenue."

"Jasper Vermont!" exclaimed Shelton involuntarily; while Lord Barminster
leaned forward eagerly.

Mr. Harker bowed his head. "You are aware," he continued, "that all
matters of business, even the tradesmen's bills, passed through his
hands. That confidence he has abused, to how great an extent I alone can
prove; for I was his tool and slave, and held his secrets. Not a bill
was paid without his receiving his commission and adding to its amount.
He it was who lent the money to Mr. Leroy's friends, after he had
procured his name with which to back them; and he it was who, behind the
screen which I supplied, gradually, yet surely, drew your son into his
net. What object he had, besides that of gain, I know not; but he
certainly desired his utter ruin in wealth and honour, and compelled me
to help him in his schemes. Among other bills we held was one,
presumably, indorsed by Mr. Mortimer Shelton----"

Shelton started up; but Lord Barminster said quietly:

"Let us hear the whole story first, Mortimer."

"That signature was a forgery," continued Mr. Harker, "double forgery
indeed; for it imitated Mr. Leroy's handwriting as well as that of Mr.
Shelton."

"I knew it," murmured his lordship in a low tone. "But pray continue,
Mr. Harker."

"The double forgery," went on the dry voice, "I now know was executed by
my employer's hand; but instructions were given in the name of the firm
to charge Mr. Adrien Leroy with the crime. The particular day was fixed
on the twenty-second simply because my master had found out that Mr.
Leroy had been somewhere else, and in the company of a lady whom he knew
Mr. Leroy would never betray. But this part you already know from
yesterday's trial. False evidence was brought to bear, in the statement
that your son had been in our office, and it was only owing to a plea of
illness that I escaped being made a witness also. This was but one
forgery, and I have here large numbers of bills all forged by the same
hand, and which, if presented, will amount to more than the sale of
three such estates as this could liquidate."

Lord Barminster uttered an exclamation of horror.

"I will leave them here with you," went on Mr. Harker, "and when the
scoundrel has been unmasked, you need have no fear of any future