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Updated: June 21, 2025
"Well, Chadwick for one; and Merrett and Ruthven and three other chaps." "Then," said Linton with some warmth, "I think you'll have to do without me. I believe you're mad." And he went off in disgust to the fives-courts.
"Batchelor," said Mr Merrett, after Hawkesbury had gone and the door was locked "Batchelor, we have sent for you here under very painful circumstances. You doubtless know why." "I must ask you to tell me, sir," I replied, respectfully, but with a tremble in my voice which I would have given anything to conceal.
"I will not, I will fetch the book myself. He doesn't know where to find it. He has no business to go to my desk." "Remain where you are, Hawkesbury," said Mr Barnacle. "What right have you to search my desk? I have private things in it. Uncle Merrett, are you going to allow this?"
But what was the use of explaining all this when evidently fortune had decreed that I should become a victim? After all, was it not better to give in at once, and let fate do its worst? "This is my key of the safe," said Mr Merrett, and all eyes turned on me. Nothing I could say, it was clear, could do any good. I therefore gaped stupidly at the key and said nothing.
"Why yes," said I resolutely. "I do." "Then you had better go to town on Saturday." "Won't you go with me?" I inquired nervously. "No," said my uncle; "Merrett, Barnacle, and Company want to see you, not me." "But " began I. But I didn't say what I was going to say. Why should I tell my uncle I was afraid to go to London alone? "Where am I to live if I do get the place?
This, coming from the source it did, I felt to be a compliment. However, I had more calls upon my new resolutions before the day was over. The partners arrived and received me each in his own peculiar way very kindly. Mr Merrett was good enough to say the work of the office had suffered a good deal in my absence, and Mr Barnacle said he hoped I had come back prepared to make up for lost time.
It was evidently hopeless to expect any light from without on the problem, so I decided for myself I would include the account in question. I was just beginning to copy it out, and to shut my ears to the chaff that was going on around me, when the counting-house door opened, and the solemn face of my friend Smith appeared, asking if Messrs. Merrett, Barnacle, and Company were at home.
But to my employers, I felt, it must sound both businesslike and straightforward; quite as straightforward, I feared, as my own equally exact but tremblingly-spoken story. "You hear what Hawkesbury says?" said Mr Merrett, turning to me. I roused myself with an effort, and answered quietly, "Yes, sir." "What have you to say to it?" "That it is false from beginning to end."
"Gentlemen," said Mr Merrett, "this is my nephew, Mr Hawkesbury. I trust you will all be good friends. Eh! what!" This last exclamation was occasioned by Hawkesbury's advancing first to me and then to Smith, and shaking our hands, much to the surprise of everybody. "These two gentlemen were at school with me, uncle," he said, by way of explanation.
He gave me an account of the interview afterwards, and said that while Mr Merrett, as usual, took everything kindly and even sympathetically, Mr Barnacle was disposed to regard Jack's representation of himself on first coming to the office as not candid, and so blameworthy.
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