All this had happened in March.
In October, Mrs.Crawley paid the twenty pounds to Fletcher, the butcher, and in November Lord Lufton's cheque was traced back through the Barchester bank to Mr.Crawley's hands.

A brickmaker of Hoggle End, much favoured by Mr.Crawley, had asked for change over the counter of this Barchester bank,--not, as will be understood, the bank on which the cheque was drawn--and had received it.

The accommodation had been refused to the man at first, but when he presented the cheque the second day, bearing Mr.Crawley's name on the back of it, together with a note from Mr.Crawley himself, the money had been given for it; and the identical notes so paid had been given to Fletcher, the butcher, on the next day by Mrs.Crawley.

When inquiry was made, Mr.Crawley stated that the cheque had been paid to him by Mr.Soames, on behalf of the rentcharge due to him by Lord Lufton.

But the error of this statement was at once made manifest.
There was the cheque, signed by Mr.Soames himself, for the exact amount,--twenty pounds four shillings.