Denzil Quarrier | Page 8

nephew made note of these lendings,

wasn't he equally careful to jot down a memorandum when the debt
was discharged?"
Mr. Charnock regarded him fixedly, and for a moment seemed in
doubt.
"You paid back these sums?"
"With what kind of action did you credit me?" said Glazzard, quietly.
The other hesitated, but wore no less stern a look.
"I am obliged to declare, Mr. Glazzard, that I can't trust your word.
That's a very strong thing to have to say to a man such as I have
thought you--a man of whom Harry always spoke as if there wasn't his
like on earth. My acquaintance with you is very slight; I know very
little indeed about you, except what Harry told me. But the man who
could deliberately borrow hundreds of pounds from a lad only just of
age--a simple, trustful, good-natured country lad, who had little but his
own exertions to depend upon--such a man will tell a lie to screen
himself! This money was not paid back; there isn't a word about it in
the diary, and there's the fact that Harry had got rid of his money in a
way no one could explain. You had it, and you have kept it, sir!"
Glazzard let his eyes stray about the room. He uncrossed his legs,
tapped on the arm of his easy-chair, and said at length:
"I have no liking for violence, and I shall try to keep my temper. Please
to tell me the date of the last entry in that journal."
Mr. Charnock opened the book again, and replied at once:
"June 5th of this year--1879."
"I see. Allow me a moment." He unlocked a drawer in a writing-table,
and referred to some paper. "On the 1st of June--we were together the
whole day--I paid your nephew five hundred and fifty pounds in
bank-notes. Please refer to the diary."
"You were together on that day, but there is no note of such a
transaction. 'With E. G. Much talk about pictures, books, and music
--delightful!' That's all."
"Have you added up the sums mentioned previously?"
"Yes. They come to what you say. How did it happen, Mr. Glazzard,
that you had so large a sum in bank-notes? It isn't usual."
"It is not unheard of, Mr. Charnock, with men who sometimes play for
money."
"What! Then you mean to tell me that Harry learnt from you to be a

gambler?"
"Certainly not. He never had the least suspicion that I played."
"And pray, what became of those notes after he received them?"
"I have no idea. For anything I know, you may still find the money."
Mr. Charnock rose from his seat.
"I see," he said, "that we needn't talk any longer. I don't believe your
story, and there's an end of it. The fact of your borrowing was utterly
disgraceful; it shows me that the poor boy had fallen in a trap, instead
of meeting with a friend who was likely to guide and improve him. You
confess yourself a gambler, and I go away with the conviction that you
are something yet worse."
Glazzard set his lips hard, but fell back into the lounging attitude.
"The matter doesn't end here," went on his accuser, "be sure of that! I
shall light upon evidence sooner or later. Do you know, sir, that Harry
had a sister, and that she earns her own living by giving lessons? You
have robbed her--think it over at your leisure. Why, less than a
fortnight after that day you and he spent together-- the 1st of June--the
lad lay dying; yet you could deliberately plan to rob him. Your denial is
utterly vain; I would pledge my life on the charge! I read guilt in your
face when I entered--you were afraid of me, Mr. Glazzard! I understand
now why you never came to see the lad on his death-bed, though he
sent for you--and of course I know why he was anxious to speak to you.
Oh, you have plenty of plausible excuses, but they are lies! You felt
pretty sure, I dare say, that the lad would not betray you; you knew his
fine sense of honour; you calculated upon it. All your conduct is of a
piece!"
Glazzard rose.
"Mr. Charnock, please to leave me.--I oughtn't to have borrowed that
money; but having paid it back, I can't submit to any more of your
abuse. My patience has its limits."
"I am no brawler," replied the other, "and I can do no good by talking
to you. But if ever I come across any of your acquaintances, they shall
know, very plainly, what opinion I have of you. Prosecute me for
slander, Mr. Glazzard, if you dare--I desire nothing better!"
And Mr. Charnock went hurriedly from the