ery has darkened."

"The scoundrel!" cried the old man in guttural rage. "I always said he'd
come to a bad end--but I never believed it--never believed it. Let me
look again. The rascal! The scoundrel! Do you mean to say he has robbed
your bank of seven thousand dollars?"

"No, he has robbed you, sir," replied the bank-manager, with alacrity,
for his instructions were to drive home, at all costs, the fact that it
was Herresford who had been swindled, and not the bank. They knew the
man they were dealing with, and had no fancy for fighting on technical
points. Unfortunately for the bank, Mr. Barnby was a little too eager.

"My money? Why should I lose money?" snapped the miser, turning around
upon him. "I didn't alter the checks. You ought to keep your eyes open.
If swindlers choose to tamper with my paper, what's it to do with me?
It's your risk, your business, your loss, not mine."

"No, sir, surely not. A member of your own family--"

"A member of my own family be hanged, sir. He's no child of mine. He's
the son of that canting sky-pilot, that parson of the slums."

"But he is your grandson, sir. I take it that you would not desire a
scandal, a public exposure."

"A scandal! What's a scandal to me? Am I to pay seven thousand dollars
for the privilege of being robbed, sir? No, sir. I entrusted you with the
care of my money. You ought to take proper precautions, and safeguard me
against swindlers and forgers."

"But he is your heir."

"Nothing of the sort. He is not my heir."

"But some day--"

"Some day! What has some day got to do with you, eh, sir? Are you in my
confidence, sir? Have I ever told you that I intend to leave my money to
my grandson?"

"No, sir, of course not. I beg your pardon if I presumed--"

"You do presume, sir."

Poor Mr. Barnby was in a perspiration. The keen, little old man was
besting and flurrying him; he was no match for this irascible invalid.

"Then, sir, I take it, that you wish us to prosecute your grandson--who
is at the war."

"Prosecute whom you like, sir, but don't come here pretending that you're
not responsible for the acts of fraudulent swindlers."

"It has been fought out over and over again, and I believe never settled
satisfactorily."

"Then, it is settled this time--unless you wish me to withdraw my account
from your bank instantly--I'm the best customer you've got. Prosecute,
sir--prosecute. Have him home from the war, and fling him into jail."

"Of cour