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There were influential people present, amongst others, Sir Arden Westhorpe, one of the county magistrates resident at Winchester. Arthur Lovell, Mr. Balderby, and the Anglo-Indian sat in a little group apart from the rest. The jurymen were ranged upon either side of a long mahogany table. The coroner sat at the top.
The house got on very well without his aid; it will get on equally well without mine. The business that brings me to London is an entirely personal matter. I am a rich man, but I don't exactly know how rich I am, and I want to realize rather a large sum of money." Mr. Balderby bowed, but his eyebrows went up a little, as if he found it impossible to control some slight evidence of his surprise.
He was a coarse-featured, sunburnt ruffianly-looking fellow; and that was all. Mr. Balderby was examined, and swore to the splendid position which Henry Dunbar occupied as chief of the house in St. Gundolph Lane; and then the examination was adjourned, and the prisoner remanded, although Arthur Lovell contended that there was no evidence to justify his detention. Mr.
Balderby touched the spring of a handbell upon his table. "Ask Mr. Austin to bring the daily balance and deposit accounts ledgers," he said to the person who answered his summons. Clement Austin appeared five minutes afterwards, carrying two ponderous morocco-bound volumes. Mr. Balderby opened both ledgers, and placed them before his senior partner. Henry Dunbar looked at the deposit account.
He, in common with every business man in London, was thoroughly familiar with the names of Dunbar, Dunbar, and Balderby. "I don't know that I can supply you with fifty thousand pounds' worth of such diamonds as you may require at a moment's notice," he said; "but I can procure them for you in a day or two, if that will do?" "That will do very well.
"Clement," said Mr. Balderby, "you are an excellent fellow; but you certainly must have got some romantic crotchet in your head, or you could never have thought of writing such a letter as this. Are you going to be married? Is that your reason for leaving us? Have you fascinated some wealthy heiress, and are you going to retire into splendid slavery?" "No, sir.
But before he arrived at the door leading from the public offices to the back of the house, he was stopped by a gentlemanly-looking man, who came forward from a desk in some shadowy region, and intercepted the stranger. This man was Clement Austin, the cashier. "Do you wish to see Mr. Balderby, sir?" he asked. "Yes. I have an appointment with him at one o'clock. My name is Dunbar."
He had been treated with the greatest respect by the prison officials, and had been provided with comfortable apartments. Arthur Lovell and Mr. Balderby were admitted to him whenever he chose to receive them. Meanwhile every voice in Winchester was loud in indignation against those who had caused the detention of the millionaire.
I consider that I have been harshly treated; but I will go." "And he did go?" said Mr. Balderby. "He did, sir," answered the clerk, who had displayed considerable emotion in relating this story of the past. "He did go, sir, he sold his commission, and left England by the Oronoko.
We shall save time by your going; for we shall be able to catch the eleven o'clock express." He looked at his watch. "There's not a moment to lose. Good morning, Miss Dunbar. We'll take care of your papa, and bring him to you in triumph. Come, Lovell." Arthur Lovell shook hands with Laura, murmured a few words in her ear, and hurried away with Mr. Balderby.
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