The Cambrian Sketch-Book Part 11

Mr. Jones, as was natural, appeared much excited during the Scotchman's narrative. He almost believed in his young friend's guilt, because the evidence was so direct and circ.u.mstantial. Mr. Wynn stood calm and collected; he never moved during the few minutes which the delivery of the evidence against him occupied, though his dark piercing eye, intently fixed upon McLiver, made that man quail beneath its penetrating glance.

When they had finished their story, Mr. Wynn asked his employer's permission to call evidence in his favour,-a request which was readily acceded to, because he really loved the youth. He then called into the office, one by one, six of his confidential clerks, the gentlemen who had been specially engaged with him in investigating the old accounts, who, in reply to his question, said that Mr. Wynn never left the office until his final departure, which was very late, and that they watched him going out though unperceived. The care-taker gave evidence that Mr. Wynn did not return after his departure. When they had completed the evidence, Mr. McLiver asked, "And what were you doing at the office that time of night?"

"We were engaged in making copies of important doc.u.ments for Mr. Wynn."

"What became of those?" asked Mr. Roberts.

"They were all put, sir, into Mr. Wynn's bag."

"Who put them into the bag?"

"We did, sir," replied Mr. Williams.

"Was the bag locked, Mr. Williams?"

"Yes, sir, it was locked; and the key has been in my possession since."

"Before we examine the contents of the bag I wish to know if you are quite sure that Mr. Wynn did not leave the office during any portion of the evening, that is, before his final departure; and that you and your fellow-clerks saw him out."

They replied, that they were prepared to make oath on the point.

"Why did you watch his departure?" asked Mr. Roberts.

"I had overheard a conversation," said Mr. Williams, the clerk of Mr.

Wynn's department, "between Mr. McLiver and his cousin Donald, in which certain threatening words were used towards Mr. Wynn. We watched his departure, thinking it quite possible that they might be lurking about the buildings in order to effect his ruin."

When McLiver and Donald heard the above evidence they became agitated, and their faces became as white as snow. Mr. Roberts scarcely knew what to do. After considering a few minutes, he turned to McLiver, saying, "I fear your tale is untrue; for these six gentlemen, whom I have always found truthful and honourable, have in the most direct manner flatly contradicted you in every particular. I hope you and your cousin have not conspired to injure this young man."

"You have hit the right nail on the head this time," said Mr. Jones, "and no mistake. But is this 3000 the whole of your loss, friend Roberts?"

"The whole as far as I know."

"Happy man! what a blessed thing it is to be rich, and unable to reckon up the whole of one's profits."

"I suppose, Jones," remarked Mr. Roberts pettishly, "you wouldn't like to lose 3000."

"I am afraid, my friend, you will find your loss not 3000, but nine times three, if the 3000 has really disappeared."

"What do you really mean, Jones? You appear to know more of my affairs than I know myself."

"In a few words, I mean to say, Roberts, that that immaculate gentleman, the accuser of my young friend here, who is also the best friend you ever had, has robbed you to the tune of some 25,000, in addition to this 3000; for I presume he has taken that sum too; and Mr. Wynn has evidence in his bag,-it is still locked,-which will completely substantiate the fact. When you know the whole, you'll bless the day, friend Roberts, on which my child was introduced into your establishment."

"For the present we will suspend our judgment. Jones, Mr. Wynn, all of you, go to Mr. Wynn's office. We will compare Mr. Wynn's papers with our ledgers and day books." The bag was unlocked, and paper after paper was produced, and doc.u.ment after doc.u.ment submitted for inspection and comparison. Cadwgan detailed step by step his proceedings in order to ascertain the exact sum total of the money abstracted by Mr. McLiver and Donald. After he had gone through these, he produced the doc.u.ments and vouchers he had collected from firms with which Messrs. Davies, Roberts & Company had had transactions, and on being compared with the ledger, it was found that in many cases the actual sum paid to merchants for goods did not amount to a moiety of the sum inserted in the ledger. The evidence of McLiver's guilt was overwhelming. When Mr. Roberts saw this, he took Mr. Wynn into his arms, embraced him as if he was his own child, and with tears in his eyes besought his pardon for having for a moment entertained suspicions of his honesty and rect.i.tude.

"The matter to me is now made plain. The real culprit is the man whom I regarded as upright, pure, and honest. He has shamefully abused my confidence. To him I entrusted my money; and what, sir," turning to McLiver, "have you to say in your defence?"

"I will neither acknowledge nor deny my guilt, sir, in the presence of that Welsh puppy, who is a wolf in sheep's clothing, a caitiff cut-throat miscreant, a cunning, intriguing, and deceitful urchin from the Welsh mountains. When he meets me and Donald in the street, I promise him he shall be well paid for his treachery and circ.u.mvention."

"That is," said Mr. Roberts, "on condition you leave me a free man. For the present, sir, you must consider yourself and your cousin-I believe him to be equally guilty with yourself-in the hands of the authorities.

The officers of justice are now in an adjoining room. They are there awaiting my orders. There is no occasion to detain them, as your guilt is but too clearly made out."

The door was then opened, and McLiver and Donald were placed in their charge, and were marched off to prison.

On the room being cleared of the presence of all excepting Mr. Jones and Cadwgan, Mr. Roberts asked the latter how he had succeeded in making such important discoveries, and the reason which had moved him in entering upon an investigation which had cost him and his staff so much time and labour.

"For a long time, sir, I have firmly believed in his dishonesty. In the first place, and this fact first awakened my suspicion, I, by means which it is unnecessary for me to detail, ascertained that he was keeping a grand house, and had livery servants and carriages, and gave grand parties, which I knew he could not do with 400 a year. His cousin, Donald, is a fast young man who spent his earnings in dissipation, and for years has been the constant companion of young men who are believed to live by swindling their respective employers. On making these discoveries, Mr. Sykes, who is an honest Yorks.h.i.+reman, and my friend Mr.

Williams, resolved to take special notice of their movements, and wisely kept records of what they saw and heard, which could at any time be produced in the event of anything turning up. We discovered first, that tea had been bought by your house of a very inferior quality, which was paid for at double the actual invoice price, and in some cases the charge was sixty per cent above the actual cost."

"But, Mr. Wynn, how did he manage this?"

"Oh, easily enough, sir."

"But how?"

"We found by inquiry, that McLiver had two relatives as cas.h.i.+ers in the houses with which you did business; and as all moneys pa.s.sed through their hands, they could commit frauds to almost any extent without fear of being detected. They had confederates, so by acting together had but little difficulty in carrying out their system of plunder, especially as the books and accounts were under their control. When you made your new arrangements, they, that is, Mr. McLiver and Donald, were apprehensive that disclosures would be made, and you will remember, sir, that McLiver almost protested against your scheme."

"I well remember, Mr. Wynn, that he was terribly angry, but little did I then think that its cause originated in fear."

"After the appointment had been made, and we had entered upon our duties, Mr. Sykes ascertained-in short he overheard a conversation between the two in which certain threats were made towards me, and in that conversation McLiver and Donald upbraided each other about their peculation. We had thus sufficient evidence to warrant us in concluding that they had robbed you. Having discovered this, we then planned the investigation, which has occupied our evenings ever since. It was late on Sat.u.r.day night when we arrived at the final result. The rest you know."

"Yes, yes, Cadwgan, I know the rest. In the presence of my dear and valued friend Jones, I offer you my humblest apology for having suspected you of dishonesty; I shall never be able to repay you for the services you have rendered me."

"I'm repaid already by your confidence and esteem."

"And hereafter, Mr. Wynn, I will seek to do so in a more substantial way.

But tell me, what can you possibly know about the quality of tea? You remarked just now it was inferior; how did you ascertain this?"

"I know the quality of teas by the smell." {178}

"By the smell!"

"Yes, sir; by the smell."

"Is that really so?"

"Yes, sir."

"Here are two samples: please give me your judgment upon them."

Mr. Wynn took the samples, and having smelt them, returned them to his employer, saying, this is worth so much, the other sample is not worth buying.

"Well, Mr. Wynn, I am satisfied, and more than satisfied, with your conduct during the years you have been in our house. For your goodness, and the deep interest you have taken in all matters connected with my affairs, from the bottom of my heart I thank you. You are necessarily agitated by reason of the scene through which you have just pa.s.sed. You must be fatigued too by reason of the extra work you have, for my sake, imposed upon yourself. I cannot now say in what way I shall reward you, but if you and friend Jones will come and dine at my house (bring Mrs.

Jones and your daughter with you), I will then tell you the course I shall adopt, and the arrangements I propose to make with reference to your position and prospects. Your disinterested service calls for an ample reward."

"I require no reward, Mr. Roberts," said Cadwgan. "I have simply done my duty."

"Well, well, Mr. Wynn, you may think so. You must not, however, condemn me for holding the contrary opinion."

"I should esteem it a favour, sir, if you would give Mr. Sykes and Mr.

Williams a holiday. They are not well, and I fear the pressure upon them during the past few weeks has overtaxed their strength."