Galloway, when Mr. Huntley had entered.
"The one, by his never having used the note originally taken; the
other, by getting a friend to return it for him. Now, my opinion is,
that he did not pursue the first plan, I believe that, if he took the
note, he used it. I questioned him on the evening of its arrival, and
at the first moment his manner almost convinced me that he was
innocent. He appeared to be genuinely surprised at the return of the
money, and ingenuously confessed that he had not possessed any to send.
But his manner veered again--suddenly, strangely--veered round to all
its old unsatisfactory suspiciousness; and when I hinted that I should
recall Butterby to my counsels, he became agitated, as he had done
formerly. My firm belief," Mr. Galloway added, laying his hand
impressively upon Mr. Channing--"my firm belief is, that Arthur did get
the money sent back to me through a friend."
"But what friend would be likely to do such a thing for him?" debated
Mr. Channing, not in the least falling in with the argument. "I know of
none."
"I think"--and Mr. Galloway dropped his voice--"that it came from
Hamish."
"From Hamish!" was Mr. Channing's echo, in a strong accent of dissent.
"That is nonsense. Hamish would never screen guilt. Hamish has not
twenty pounds to spare."
"He might spare it in the cause of a brother; and for a brother's sake
he might even screen guilt," pursued Mr.
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