He paid all the bills, and put by a quarter's rent and taxes. Then there
remained of his little capital just ten pounds.

He went to his printers, and had a thousand order-checks printed. These
forms ran thus:--

"Dr. Staines, of 13 Dear Street, Mayfair (blank for date), orders of
(blank here for tradesman and goods ordered), for cash. Received same
time (blank for tradesman's receipt). Notice: Dr. Staines disowns all
orders not printed on this form, and paid for at date of order."

He exhibited these forms, and warned all the tradespeople, before a
witness whom he took round for that purpose.

He paid off Pearman on the spot. Pearman had met Clara, dressed like a
pauper, her soldier having emptied her box to the very dregs, and he now
offered to stay. But it was too late.

Staines told the cook Mrs. Staines was in delicate health, and must not
be troubled with anything. She must come to him for all orders.

"Yes, sir," said she. But she no sooner comprehended the check system
fully than she gave warning. It put a stop to her wholesale pilfering.
Rosa's cooks had made fully a hundred pounds out of her amongst them
since she began to keep accounts.

Under the male housekeeper every article was weighed on delivery, and
this soon revealed that the butcher and the fishmonger had habitually
delivered short weight from the first, besides putting down the same
thing twice. The things were sent back that moment, with a printed form,