That will do." The clerk retired, and Charley, rising, unlocked a drawer, and taking out some books and papers, laid them on the table.

Intently, carefully, he began to examine them, referring at the same time to a letter which had lain open at his hand while he had been sitting there.

For a quarter of an hour he studied the books and papers, then, all at once, his fingers fastened on a point and stayed.

Again he read the letter lying beside him.

A flush crimsoned his face to his hair--a singular flush of shame, of embarrassment, of guilt--a guilt not his own.