eed an eagerness to yield to the lawyer's desires; it was
not Mr. Sheratt, but the Bank that was immovable. Firm-fixed it stood
upon its bedrock of tradition that in matters of fraud, crime should be
punished to the full limit of the law.

"The estate of the criminal, high or low," said Mr. Sheratt
impressively, "matters not. The Bank stands upon the principle, and from
this it cannot be moved." Mr. Sheratt began to wax eloquent. "Fidelity
to its constituency, its shareholders, its depositors, indeed to the
general public, is the corner-stone of its policy. The Bank of Scotland
is a National Institution, with a certain National obligation."

Mr. Rae quietly drew from his pocket a pamphlet, opened it slowly,
and glanced at the page. "Ay, it's as I thought, Mr. Sheratt," he said
dryly. "At times I wondered where Sir Archibald got his style."

Mr. Sheratt blushed like a boy caught copying.

"But now since I know who it is that writes the speech of the Chairman
of the Board of Directors, tell me, Sheratt, as man to man, is it you or
is it Sir Archibald that's at the back of this prosecution? For if it is
you, I've something to say to you; if not, I'll just say it where it's
most needed. In some way or other I'm bound to see this thing through.
That boy can't go to prison. Now tell me, Tom? It's for auld sake's
sake."

"As sure as death, Rae, it's the Chairman, and it's God's truth I'm
telling ye, though I should not." They were back again into the speech
and spirit of their boyhood days.

"Then I must see Sir Archibald. Give me time to see him, Tom."

"It's a waste of time, I'm tellin' ye, but two days I'll give ye, Sandy,
for auld sake's sake, as you say. A friendship of half a hundred years
should mean something to us. For your sake I'd let the lad go, God
knows, and there's my han' upon it, but as I said, that lies with Sir
Archibald."

The old friends shook hands in silence.

"Thank ye, Tom, thank ye," said Mr. Rae; "I knew it."

"But harken to me, ye'll no' move Sir Archibald, for on this particular
point he's quite mad. He'd prosecute the Duke of Argyll, he would. But
two days are yours, Sandy. And mind with Sir Archibald ye treat his Bank
with reverence! It's a National Institution, with National obligations,
ye ken?" Mr. Sheratt's wink conveyed a volume of meaning. "And mind you,
Rae," here Mr. Sheratt grew grave, "I am trusting you to produce that
lad when wanted."

"I have him in safe keeping, Tom, an