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286 open the door when I was startled to hear within men's voices raised in anger.

I listened and overheard a stranger exclaim in a hard tone, but quite audibly:

"Well, Farnell, I've put the truth quite plainly before you, much as I regret it. You'll have to pay, or else face prosecution. You are my friend, and I alone know the truth. You put things square, then I'll remain silent, and nobody will know."

"Yes, and you might blackmail me later on, eh?"

"I think you know me well enough, after ten years, to be certain that I should never do that!" snapped the other.

"What I know of you, Davies, is nothing much to your credit," replied my patient in a low voice. "But I may as well admit the truth of all you've said, and be perfectly frank."

"And how do you propose squaring it up? Your defalcations amount, roughly, I think, to nearly eleven thousand pounds."

"I haven't got the money," declared old Farnell.

"But you've had it and thrown it away on the Stock Exchange."

"Who knows that I've had it beside yourself?"