c.o.kESON. Ye-es! [He laughs. Then with a sudden gravity] I'm sorry for that young man. I feel it as if it was my own son, Mr. James.

JAMES. A nasty business!

c.o.kESON. It unsettles you. All goes on regular, and then a thing like this happens. Shan't relish my lunch to-day.

JAMES. As bad as that, c.o.keson?

c.o.kESON. It makes you think. [Confidentially] He must have had temptation.

JAMES. Not so fast. We haven't convicted him yet.

c.o.kESON. I'd sooner have lost a month's salary than had this happen.

[He broods.]

JAMES. I hope that fellow will hurry up.

c.o.kESON. [Keeping things pleasant for the cashier] It isn't fifty yards, Mr. James. He won't be a minute.

JAMES. The idea of dishonesty about this office it hits me hard, c.o.keson.

He goes towards the door of the partners' room.

SWEEDLE. [Entering quietly, to c.o.kESON in a low voice] She's popped up again, sir-something she forgot to say to Falder.

c.o.kESON. [Roused from his abstraction] Eh? Impossible. Send her away!

JAMES. What's that?

c.o.kESON. Nothing, Mr. James. A private matter. Here, I'll come myself. [He goes into the outer office as JAMES pa.s.ses into the partners' room] Now, you really mustn't--we can't have anybody just now.

RUTH. Not for a minute, sir?

c.o.kESON. Reely! Reely! I can't have it. If you want him, wait about; he'll be going out for his lunch directly.

RUTH. Yes, sir.

WALTER, entering with the cashier, pa.s.ses RUTH as she leaves the outer office.

c.o.kESON. [To the cashier, who resembles a sedentary dragoon]

Good-morning. [To WALTER] Your father's in there.

WALTER crosses and goes into the partners' room.

c.o.kESON. It's a nahsty, unpleasant little matter, Mr. Cowley. I'm quite ashamed to have to trouble you.

COWLEY. I remember the cheque quite well. [As if it were a liver]

Seemed in perfect order.

c.o.kESON. Sit down, won't you? I'm not a sensitive man, but a thing like this about the place--it's not nice. I like people to be open and jolly together.

COWLEY. Quite so.

c.o.kESON. [b.u.t.tonholing him, and glancing toward the partners' room]

Of course he's a young man. I've told him about it before now-- leaving s.p.a.ce after his figures, but he will do it.

COWLEY. I should remember the person's face--quite a youth.

c.o.kESON. I don't think we shall be able to show him to you, as a matter of fact.

JAMES and WALTER have come back from the partners' room.

JAMES. Good-morning, Mr. Cowley. You've seen my son and myself, you've seen Mr. c.o.keson, and you've seen Sweedle, my office-boy. It was none of us, I take it.

The cashier shakes his head with a smile.

JAMES. Be so good as to sit there. c.o.keson, engage Mr. Cowley in conversation, will you?

He goes toward FALDER'S room.

c.o.kESON. Just a word, Mr. James.

JAMES. Well?

c.o.kESON. You don't want to upset the young man in there, do you?

He's a nervous young feller.

JAMES. This must be thoroughly cleared up, c.o.keson, for the sake of Falder's name, to say nothing of yours.

c.o.kESON. [With Some dignity] That'll look after itself, sir. He's been upset once this morning; I don't want him startled again.

JAMES. It's a matter of form; but I can't stand upon niceness over a thing like this--too serious. Just talk to Mr. Cowley.

He opens the door of FALDER'S room.

JAMES. Bring in the papers in Boulter's lease, will you, Falder?

c.o.kESON. [Bursting into voice] Do you keep dogs?

The cashier, with his eyes fixed on the door, does not answer.

c.o.kESON. You haven't such a thing as a bulldog pup you could spare me, I suppose?

At the look on the cashier's face his jaw drops, and he turns to see FALDER standing in the doorway, with his eyes fixed on COWLEY, like the eyes of a rabbit fastened on a snake.

FALDER. [Advancing with the papers] Here they are, sir!

JAMES. [Taking them] Thank you.

FALDER. Do you want me, sir?