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Updated: June 21, 2025
What key could it be? It was the first I had seen of it! "Let me look at it," said Mr Merrett, suddenly, as the detective laid it on the table. It was handed to him, and his face changed as he took it. He turned for a moment to show it to Mr Barnacle and whisper something. Then he said, "This is my key of the safe, which I left last night in the pocket of my office coat in this room!"
"You deny, in fact, ever having been at this safe, or in this room?" "Most certainly." They all looked grave, and Mr Merrett said, solemnly, "I am sorry to hear you deny it, Batchelor. If you had made a full confession we should have been disposed to deal more leniently with you." "I never did it it's all false!" I cried, suddenly losing all self- control.
Then you are prepared to give me security, of course? Now what do you say to my drawing on Messrs. Merrett, Barnacle, and Company, at one month, for the amount? I should be satisfied with their bill." I nearly jumped off my seat with horror. "Merrett, Barnacle, and Company pay my tailor's bill! Oh, no! quite out of the question!" I exclaimed. "Ah, that's a pity!
And the worst of it is, one can't even lick the beggar now and then, like any other fellow." It undoubtedly was hard lines, and we all sympathised not a little with the chief clerk's grievance. Our suspense was not protracted. On the appointed day Mr Merrett arrived, accompanied by a slender youth of about eighteen, at sight of whom Jack and I started as though we had been shot.
You should have seen the look of disgust with which he referred to this part of his life! But now, having seen Merrett, Barnacle, and Company's advertisement, he was applying for their situation.
Merrett, Barnacle, and Company, if you please," put in the clerk. "I beg your pardon," said I, "from Messrs. Merrett, Barnacle, and Company, telling me to be here at 10:15." "Oh. Why didn't you say that before? What's the use of prevaricating when it's just as easy to tell the truth straight out, eh? What's the time now?" "Twenty past," said I, looking at the clock. "And you call that punctual?
All this was the first hurried impression caused on my mind by my friend Smith's letter; and for a minute I quite forgot, in my mortification, that I had in my hand another letter a letter from Merrett, Barnacle, and Company themselves.
One of his expressive eyes was closed and blackened. He also wore what is known in ring circles as a thick ear. "What on earth's up?" inquired Dunstable, amazed at these phenomena. "Have you been scrapping?" "Yes Merrett I won. What are you up to writing lines? You may as well save yourself the trouble. They won't be any good." Dunstable stared. "The Trust's bust," said Linton.
"You two had better go to your work for the present," said Mr Barnacle; "but understand that you are neither of you at liberty to leave the office. Merrett, I will go down to the bank." "Do," said Mr Merrett. And so this first painful interview ended. My feelings on finding myself once more at my desk among my fellow-clerks may be more easily imagined than described.
It was Mr Merrett who appeared at the door with an extremely long face; and looking round the office, fixed his eyes on me, and said, "Batchelor come in here!" I obeyed. Instead of going in as usual before me, he waited till I had entered, and then followed me, closing the door behind him. What on earth does it all mean? Mr Barnacle sat looking straight before him through his spectacles.
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