CHAPTER XIII AN ARTFUL TRICK

 It was a difficult matter to decide. Gerald had a natural dislike to become an informer or expose his fellow-clerk, though he felt that Mr. Tubbs ought to know how he was being robbed. So he let the day pass without speaking of what he had seen. He was no longer surprised that Brandon could spend so much money on billiards¹, since it did not come out of his salary, but out of his employer's till.

 

In the evening he called upon Mr. Nugent and asked his advice.

 

"Have you told Mr. Tubbs what you discovered?" asked the old gentleman.

 

"No, sir."

 

"You should do so."

 

"I don't like to expose Brandon."

 

"I can understand your objection, but nevertheless it is your duty to do so."

 

"I wish he would discover it in some other way."

 

"He is not likely to do so."

 

"He may not believe me."

 

"At any rate you will have done your duty."

 

"I will think it over, Mr. Nugent. In the meantime I am obliged to you for your advice."

 

"I shall always be glad to advise you," said Mr. Nugent, kindly². "You are a straightforward³ and honorable boy, and I have all confidence in you."

 

"Thank you, sir. I am glad to have you say that. Suppose Brandon denies it?"

 

"You can suggest to Mr. Tubbs to put a marked bill in the drawer, and then try to trace it in case it is taken."

 

"I will do so."

 

But Gerald did not have an opportunity to make use of Mr. Nugent's advice. During the day he had shown a degree of perturbation occasioned by his discovery of Brandon's treachery that had excited the notice of his fellow-clerk. Guilt⁴ is always suspicious, and Brandon, knowing his own dishonesty, was constantly on the watch for the detection which he dreaded⁵.

 

"The kid suspects me," he said to himself. "I must forestall⁶ him."

 

Accordingly, when the store closed, he did not offer to go out with Gerald, but said: "I am not quite ready to go yet."

 

This suited Gerald, who had intended to call on Mr. Nugent to ask his advice. He therefore said "Good night!" and walked away.

 

Brandon watched him go up the road, and then reentering the store just as his employer was ready to leave, said:

 

"Can you stop a minute, Mr. Tubbs?"

 

"Certainly. What is it?"

 

"I have something to say to you—something important."

 

"Indeed!" said the grocer, surprised.

 

"Have you—missed any money within a few days?"

 

"I can't say. Why do you ask?"

 

"Because I saw something to-day that startled me. Do you think Gerald is honest?"

 

"Bless my soul, of course! He comes of a good family. His father was highly respected."

 

"That may be; but there are plenty of boys and men belonging to respectable families who cannot be relied upon."

 

"What did you see? What makes you suspect the boy?"

 

"I saw him take a bill from the drawer this afternoon. Suppose you examine it, and see if you miss anything."

 

The grocer opened the drawer hastily.

 

"I can't tell," he said, slowly. "I didn't keep track of the bills in the drawer."

 

"I did. There was a five-dollar bill paid by Mr. Bacon for a barrel of flour."

 

"So there was, Brandon—so there was."

 

"See if you can find the five-dollar bill in the drawer."

 

"No, I can't," returned Mr. Tubbs, after a brief examination.

 

"Then that was the bill the boy took."

 

"I can't believe it; so young, too, and so honest-looking!"

 

"He is evidently very artful," said Brandon. "I am sorry, Mr. Tubbs, I am really sorry to be obliged to inform against him, but I felt it to be my duty."

 

"You are a good fellow, Brandon," said the grocer, grasping his hand. "You have done what you ought to do. I feel that you are a true friend."

 

"I try to be, sir; but I will own that I had a selfish motive⁷."

 

"What is it?"

 

"I thought if you missed the bill you might suspect me."

 

"No, Brandon; I could hardly do that, after the long time you have been with me."

 

"Yes, sir, I have been in your employ five years, and I humbly⁸ hope that you have found me faithful, sir."

 

"Yes, Brandon," said the deceived grocer, "I have always found you faithful."

 

Brandon laughed in his sleeve. He found his task easier than he had supposed it would be. Mr. Tubbs was a ready dupe.

 

"It seems terrible," said the grocer. "What would his poor father have said if he had lived to know of the boy's dishonesty?"

 

"Perhaps if his father had lived he would not have stolen."

 

"What do you think I ought to do, Brandon? Would you advise me to have him arrested?"

 

"No, sir. Ask him to return the bill he took from the drawer. If he denies having taken it, you will know what to think."

 

"True; your advice is good. I will speak to him to-morrow morning. Thank you, for telling me what you saw."

 

The store was closed, and the two went in different directions—Mr. Tubbs towards his home, Brandon to the billiard-room.

 

The latter smiled as he pushed on his way.

 

"What would the old man have thought," he said to himself, "if he knew that I had the parson's bill in my own pocket? My friend Gerald, I have spiked⁹ your guns, as you will find if you undertake to make trouble for me. You are altogether too innocent. You are too good to play billiards, but you will find yourself in something worse.

 

The next morning Gerald came to the store earlier than usual, for he wanted an opportunity of speaking to Mr. Tubbs. The grocer, unlike most men in business for themselves, generally was first on the ground and opened the store himself. It was a habit he had formed when a subordinate. He always rose early and had an early breakfast, so that this involved no self-denial on his part.

 

Brandon, to give Mr. Tubbs an opportunity of speaking to Gerald, didn't come round till twenty minutes after his usual time.

 

Gerald noticed that the grocer looked unusually grave, but was quite unprepared for what was to come.

 

"Good morning, Mr. Tubbs," he said, in a pleasant tone.

 

The grocer did not return his greeting, but said:

 

"Gerald, there is something I wish to speak to you about."

 

"Yes, sir. I wished also to speak to you."

 

"I wonder whether he is going to confess," thought Mr. Tubbs.

 

"What have you to say to me?"

 

"I think a bank bill was taken from your money-drawer yesterday."

 

Mr. Tubbs was amazed. What did it mean? Was it possible that the boy was going to make a clean breast of his dishonesty?

 

"A bank bill was taken from the drawer yesterday," he said—"a five-dollar note."

 

"I didn't know that it was a five," said Gerald. "I didn't suppose you had discovered it."

 

"I am glad, however, that you have confessed the theft to me. Return the bill, and I will overlook your fault."

 

"What on earth do you mean, Mr. Tubbs?" ejaculated Gerald. "You surely do not think that I took the money?"

 

"Certainly I do."

 

"Then, sir, you are very much mistaken," said Gerald, indignantly. "I was never dishonest in all my life."

 

"Some one must have taken the money."

 

"Some one did."

 

"Who, may I ask?"

 

"Brandon! I saw him take it from the drawer when he was putting in a smaller sum, which he had been paid for groceries."

 

"This is shameful¹⁰, Gerald Lane," said Mr. Tubbs, angrily. "It is not enough that you take my money, but you seek to place the crime upon an innocent man."

 

"You are very much mistaken, Mr. Tubbs," said Gerald, pale but resolute¹¹. "I saw Brandon take the money with my own eyes, but I did not know that it was a five-dollar bill. How did you discover your loss?"

 

"It was called to my attention last evening by Brandon himself."

 

"He told you the drawer had been robbed!" exclaimed Gerald, in amazement¹².

 

"Yes."

 

"Then he must have done it to divert suspicion from himself. Probably he had the note in his pocket when he was speaking to you."

1 billiards   

n.台球

参考例句：

• John used to divert himself with billiards.约翰过去总打台球自娱。
• Billiards isn't popular in here.这里不流行台球。

2 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

3 straightforward   

adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的

参考例句：

• A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
• I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。

4 guilt   

n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责

参考例句：

• She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
• Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。

5 dreaded   

adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The dreaded moment had finally arrived. 可怕的时刻终于来到了。
• He dreaded having to spend Christmas in hospital. 他害怕非得在医院过圣诞节不可。 来自《用法词典》

6 forestall   

vt.抢在…之前采取行动；预先阻止

参考例句：

• I left the room to forestall involvements.我抢先离开了这房间以免受牵累。
• He followed this rule in order to forestall rumors.他遵守这条规矩是为了杜绝流言蜚语。

7 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

8 humbly   

adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地

参考例句：

• We humbly beg Your Majesty to show mercy. 我们恳请陛下发发慈悲。
• "You must be right, Sir,'said John humbly. “你一定是对的，先生，”约翰恭顺地说道。

9 spiked   

adj.有穗的；成锥形的；有尖顶的

参考例句：

• The editor spiked the story. 编辑删去了这篇报道。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They wondered whether their drinks had been spiked. 他们有些疑惑自己的饮料里是否被偷偷搀了烈性酒。 来自辞典例句

10 shameful   

adj.可耻的，不道德的

参考例句：

• It is very shameful of him to show off.他向人炫耀自己，真不害臊。
• We must expose this shameful activity to the newspapers.我们一定要向报社揭露这一无耻行径。

11 resolute   

adj.坚决的，果敢的

参考例句：

• He was resolute in carrying out his plan.他坚决地实行他的计划。
• The Egyptians offered resolute resistance to the aggressors.埃及人对侵略者作出坚决的反抗。

12 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。