The Argosy — page 205: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

188 The Ebony Box. Upon this Lawyer Chance inquired of his learned brother why he need waste time in useless questions ; begging to remind him that it was not until Wednesday morning the box disappeared, so the prisoner could not well have had any of its contents about him on ‘Tuesday. ‘Just let my questions alone, will you,” retorted Mr. Standup, with a nod. ‘I know what I am about. tome. Was the guinea you profess to have seen a perfect coin, or was there a hole in it?” “Tt was a perfect coin, sir.” ‘* And what became of it P” “JT think Mr. Dene put it in his waistcoat pocket: I did not particularly notice. Quite close upon that, my father came home and we sat down to tea. No, sir, nothing was said to my father about the guinea; if 1t was, I did not hear it. But he and Mr. Dene talked of the box of guineas that had been found.” ‘Who was it that called while you were at tea?” “Young Mr. Chance called. We had finished tea then, and Mr. Dene took him upstairs to his own sitting-room.” “T am not asking you about young Mr. Chance; we shall come to him presently,” was the rough-toned, but not ill-natured retort. ‘¢ Somebody else called: who was it?” Maria, blushing and paling ever since she stood up to the ordeal, grew white now. Mr. Badger had called at the door, she answered, and Mr. Dene went out to speak to him. Worried by Lawyer Standup as to whether he did not come to ask for money, she ' said she believed so, but she did not hear all they said. Quiet Mr. Parslet was the next witness. He had to acknowledge that he did hear it. Mr. Badger appeared to be pressing for some money owing to him; could not tell the amount, knew nothing about that. When questioned whether the accused owed him money, Parslet said not a shilling; Mr. Dene had never sought to borrow of him, and had paid his monthly accounts regularly. Upon that, Mr. Badger was produced; a thin man with a neck as stiffas a poker; who gave his reluctant testimony in a sweet tone of benevolence. Mr. Dene had been borrowing money from him for some time ; somewhere about twenty pounds, he thought, was owing now, including interest. He had repeatedly asked for its repay- ment, but only got put off with (as he believed) lame excuses. Had certainly gone to ask for it on the Tuesday evening; was neither loud nor angry, oh, dear no; but did tell the accused he thought he could give him someif he would, and did say that he must have a portion of it within a week, or he should apply to Mr. Jacobson, of Elm Farm. Did not really mean to apply to Mr. Jacobson, had no wish to do anyone an injury, but felt vexed at the young man’s off-handedness, which looked like indifference. Anew besides that Mr. Dene had other debts. Now, Miss Parslet, please attend — CORMICE OOO L<Sn (EC) m