and I have disbursed the money. I am not ashamed of it; and I will answer for it to any man. It was the payment of a just debt, and it was given to me by Mr. Brassington himself, there!"
"My dear Mr. McAuley," began Kirby again.
"I am telling you the plain truth, and I have witnesses who can go into the box and swear. Not all that wretched, snivelling old fellow can do"
"An old friend, Mr. McAuley," said Mr. Kirby suavely, "an old friend!"
"Well," compromised Jimmy, "I will say Puritan. Not all that old Puritan's money can get over the plain facts. We can swear to it, both of us. The place and the time. It was the morning after, and it was at Greystones."
"The morning after what?" said Mr. Kirby.
"Tuesday, the morning after that party, of course. Exactly a week ago. The date 's on the cheque, and what 's more, Mr. Kirby, I have Mr. Brassington's letter signed by him on that occasion and admitting the debt and his payment of it."
"Really," said Mr. Kirby, "indeed! This is most astonishing."
