If he did not come, then I should know I had driven him not only from me but from his very prospects in life.
The general impression at Hawk Street was that he would not come.
Doubleday and Harris had a bet of a shilling on the event.
"If he does turn up," said Crow, "it'll show he means to brazen it out before us all." "Then you may be sure he'll come," said Wallop, "It was all very well when we weren't supposed to know," said Harris, "but now it's all out he doesn't expect us to treat him like an ordinary gentleman." "It's certainly not anything to be proud of," remarked Hawkesbury, pleasantly; "but--" At that moment the door opened and Smith entered--solemn as ever, and to all appearances perfectly composed and unconscious of the curiosity his appearance occasioned.
But I who watched him narrowly could detect a quick, doubtful glance round as he entered and took his usual place.
He never looked at me.

On the contrary, he appeared to guess where I was, and purposely avoided turning in that direction.
The fellows were evidently perplexed, and not quite pleased.
"You've won your bet," said Harris across the screen to Doubleday.
"Never mind, you've got your man," replied Doubleday.
"He seems awfully pleased with himself," said Crow.
"I wish my governor was a yellow-jacket, so I do," growled Wallop, "then I could hold up my head like a gentleman.

But he's only a merchant!" All this was said in a loud voice, evidently for the benefit of Smith.
He, however, heeded it not, but quietly took his pen and blotting-paper from his desk, and turning to Harris said, "I want that ledger to go on with, if you'll unlock the safe, please." Harris stared in astonishment.

It had passed his comprehension how the fellow could have the face to show up at the office at all, but for him to have the audacity to address a fellow-clerk, and that fellow-clerk Harris, of all people, seemed fairly to stun that worthy.
It took him fully half a minute to recover his speech.

Then he stammered out in white heat, "Eh?
Do you know who you're speaking to-- you cad ?" "I'm speaking to you," said Smith, calmly.
"Then what do you mean by it, you son of a thief ?" demanded Harris.
"When I want you to speak to me I'll ask you--there." Smith looked up with a slight flush on his face.
"You seem to want to quarrel," he said.