McAuley." Mr. Kirby laughed professionally. "You are legally responsible, whoever it was got in and did the harm. The time isn't up, you see, and you know the absurdity of the thing is that a man can issue a writ like that! Why, bless you, you can go and buy a pair of boots on credit and find the writ waiting for you when you get home! It 's ridiculous, but it 's the law."
Jimmy's face was hot and his eyes were too bright.
"It was not a forgery, Mr. Kirby!" he said.
"Not a what?" said Mr. Kirby, looking up with a fine affectation of confusion. "I 'm not talking about that, Mr. McAuley. Really, poor Brassington's loss is none of our business. But if you 're interested, and if you 're going to see young Brassington, you might tell him that his father 's put the whole thing in my hands, and I am going to have details of the cheque and who it was made out to to-morrow by post at my office."
"Mr. Kirby," said Jimmy, in the most agitated of voices, "I solemnly swear to God that that cheque was not forged!"
"Really, Mr. McAuley," said Mr. Kirby, "I don't see what you have to do with"
"Yes, but you will see," interrupted Jimmy
