'"Well, sir, I saw Master George take down the box, place it on the
bench by the door, unlock it, and take out something. You may guess
what that was, for he was some minutes examining the contents."

'George Leatrim turned very pale, and visibly trembled; but he never
took his eyes from the old man's face.

'"George Leatrim," said the Doctor, "you are now at liberty to give
your explanation of this extraordinary conduct. I charge you to answer
truly the questions I put to you. I do not mean to condemn you unheard.
What did you want in the study last Friday afternoon?"

'"I went there to seek you, and not finding you, I took down the key of
the iron gates that open into the porch of the church, and went to look
for you in the garden."

'"What did you want with me?"

'"You gave me on my birthday a silver crown piece."

'"I did so. My father gave it to me when a boy of your age. It was one
of the coins struck in commemoration of George III's coronation. What
of that?"

'"I wished to give it to God. I went into the study to ask your
permission to do so, as it was a present from you. I found Ralph Wilson
writing, as he says, and you absent. I took the key of the church--not
of the poor's box, as he affirms, for I could make my deposit without
that--and went into the garden, hoping to find you there. I then made