CHAPTER IV.

_THE VICTORY OF INNOCENCE_.

The establishment of Messrs. Davies, Roberts & Company, was situated in one of those narrow streets, and was one of those dark and dingy-looking buildings, which were far from being uncommon in old London. The premises, however, were large and commodious, and were specially adapted for their important trade. When Cadwgan saw it for the first time, namely, on the morning succeeding the conversation between Mr. Jones and himself recorded in the previous chapter, he was painfully struck with the contrast it presented with his own light and airy home, surrounded as that home was by rich fields of pasture land and trees of every kind and hue. However, he was by no means disheartened, and was far from disposed to give up the contest in life’s battle without a struggle, so he entered the building with his friend Mr. Jones cheerfully, and presently was asked into the presence of Mr. Roberts, the head of the firm.

“And this is the young gentleman you spoke to me about, friend Jones?”

“Yes. Mr. Cadwgan Wynn. I hope for the sake of our common country and our friendship, that you will not be unmindful of his interest.”

“His progress here, friend Jones, will depend wholly upon himself. If he prove himself quick, painstaking, and honest, he shall not want a friend.”

“His honesty and rectitude I will guarantee; and methinks as he comes from a shrewd stock, he will, with a few years’ experience, prove a valuable hand,—one whom it will be difficult for you to do without.”

“I am aware, Jones, that I can fully rely on your recommendation. Now, Mr. Wynn, when will you be ready to go into harness?”

“I am prepared, sir, to commence my duties at once. If convenient for you to make arrangements, I’ll remain here to-day.”

“By all means remain. Come, follow me, and I will introduce you to Mr. McLiver, our chief cashier, in whose department you will be engaged for the present.”

Mr. McLiver was a Scotchman, who had been in the service of the firm many years. From almost the lowest place, he had risen step by step until he attained the most important post in the house. In him the firm had unbounded confidence, and as he apparently managed his department with skill and economy Mr. Roberts permitted him to select nearly the whole of the clerks attached thereto. In less than two years from the date of his appointment to his present post he had managed, by hook or by crook, to get rid of nearly the whole of the old hands, and their places he supplied with Scotchmen of his own kith and kin. From the first day of entering the office, Mr. McLiver regarded Cadwgan as an intruder, an interloper; hence he looked upon the youth with aversion, and availed himself of every opportunity to vex and annoy him. But this was not all. Any little mistake Mr. Wynn might make in his books or accounts, was carried to Mr. Roberts. But to these complaints he turned a deaf ear, while at the same time he strictly enjoined upon Mr. McLiver to take all possible care to have Cadwgan thoroughly instructed in all business matters; above all, that he should be made a good accountant. Though the Scotchman faithfully promised to carry out to the letter his employer’s instructions, yet he intentionally refrained from doing so; while he continued to annoy the youth by making personal allusions to his country, and on more than one occasion he called him a Welsh blockhead. Of his conduct Cadwgan never made any complaint, nor did he make the slightest allusion to it, even to Mr. Jones. He worked on, was constantly labouring at his books and accounts, and in spite of the cashier he soon became a first-rate accountant. Before he had been in the establishment five years, he was the best man in the house as regarded profound knowledge of intricate details.

On the afternoon of the fifth anniversary of his official life, Mr. Roberts called Cadwgan into his private office, and expressed to him the high opinion he had formed of his ability and character; and to his great surprise informed him that being about to rearrange the work of the office, he had resolved to divide the office work into sections, and that it was his (Mr. Roberts’) intention and wish that he should take the position of chief accountant in the establishment, and that there would be a number of clerks under him; that for the future Mr. McLiver would simply receive moneys due to the firm, and pay all demands against it, but all accounts must pass through the hands of the accountants, which should bear the chief’s signature as being correct.

Cadwgan’s eyes filled with tears on being apprized of his promotion to so important a post, and he thanked Mr. Roberts from his heart of hearts for his confidence and kindness.

The morning on which Mr. Wynn was to commence his new duties, Mr. McLiver repaired to Mr. Roberts’ private office, where he found that gentleman occupying his usual seat, engaged in reading the money article of that morning’s _Times_. Addressing that gentleman in a somewhat peremptory manner, he said he had just stepped in to ask if it was really true that the young Welshman was to be placed in such an important and responsible position in the establishment.

“It is quite true, Mr. McLiver. The appointment has already been made, and in the opinion of my son and myself Mr. Wynn has richly earned the post assigned him. We are of opinion that, of all the clerks, he is by far the best qualified to discharge the duties of the office.”

“But consider, sir, my many years of faithful service in your house. I think that service merits some consideration from you.”

“But what is your wish, Mr. McLiver?”

“My wish, sir, is, that you confer this appointment upon my cousin. He has been longer in your employ than Wynn, and I am sure he possesses ability far superior to that of this young man.”

“That is quite impossible, Mr. McLiver. Mr. Wynn’s appointment has already been made, and he has been duly informed of my resolve. In fact he has accepted our offer.”

“In that case, sir, I fear I must send in my resignation. I could not think of having my books and accounts overhauled by this intruder.”

“You may leave, sir, if you wish; and I will give you a cheque for your quarter’s salary.”

“Am I right then in concluding you have lost confidence in me? Are you desirous that the connection between us be severed?”

“By no means, sir. If you leave, it will be your own act and deed.”

“Then you wish me to remain in your service?”

“Of course I do, Mr. McLiver. But you will bear in mind that all my arrangements and plans must be carried out to the letter. There must be no divided authority here, so long as I’m master. I desire you to confine yourself, wholly, to the duties of your department, which require your undivided attention; and I will be answerable for the proper discharge of the duties of the new accountant’s office.”

“I bow to your decision, Mr. Roberts, and hope you will not have any cause to regret the arrangements you have made.”

“Of that, sir, time will tell. You, Mr. McLiver, will not have to make up my loss.”

McLiver, finding it was useless to press the matter further, wished his chief good morning, and returned to his own office in a very bad humour.

On entering, he uttered the most awful imprecations against Welshmen in general, and Mr. Wynn in particular. He swore that he would be revenged. He turned to his cousin, and thus addressed him:—

“It is owing to you, you d—d scoundrel, that I owe my present disgrace.”

“To me, sir! What the d—l do you mean?”

“I mean, Donald, that if you had been steady and honest and plodding, this calamity would not have befallen our clan.”

“A fellow must have a spree, McLiver, now and then. That is human nature.”

“D—n human nature! Donald, you talk like a fool.”

“I’m sorry for you, cousin. I’m truly sorry for you.”

“It is a d—d bad job for me, that you have indulged in dissipation to the extent you have.”

“But old Roberts has paid the piper, Mac, though he little suspects it. He is little aware where the money comes from to keep up your grand establishment. If he knew all wouldn’t there be a jolly blow up!”

“You son of paupers, you parish ’prentice, if you talk to me in that way I’ll knock your b—y head off your shoulders, by G—d I’ll do it, though you be my father’s brother’s son.”

“Come, come, cousin; it won’t do for thee and me to quarrel and fall out now. We’ve sailed too long in the same boat—I mean, we’ve dipped our fingers too deeply in the same till to peach upon each other, or to quarrel. Methinks our present duty is to guard against being found out.”

“Your advice is good, Donald; but that our delinquencies will come to the knowledge of old Roberts, d—n him, is a matter of certainty. That young Welsh nincompoop imp has his eyes everywhere; his ears are always open. I should not be at all surprised even if our present talk reached him. For us it was an evil day when he came here. If I were sure of not being found out, I’d soon put an end to his presence.”

“Bad as I am, cousin, I’d not commit murder. That we must not do. Our best plan is to concoct some scheme to dethrone this upstart. Old Roberts has willed he should reign over us; be it our mission to bring him to the dust.”

“A good suggestion, Donald. By gam! we must take care, though, to lay the snare well so as to be certain of our bird.”

* * * * *

During several months succeeding the above conversation the business of the house of Davies, Roberts & Company went on in its usual quiet way, but in those months the young Welshman and his staff had succeeded in overhauling the books of the firm for several years. At the accounts they had worked night and day. When the investigation had been completed his clerks knew nothing about the result, nor indeed of the object which they had in view in making so strict an investigation. So far Mr. Wynn had discovered defalcations amounting to nearly £20,000, though the bottom of the peculation had not yet been reached. The books showed that McLiver had carried on his swindling in a regularly systematic manner, and had escaped detection for the reason that all his subordinates, which made up nearly the whole staff, were creatures of his own—principally his own kith and kin. When Cadwgan had completed his labours, he had ascertained, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the amount abstracted was £24,500. During the months he had been engaged in auditing the books, Cadwgan had made certain inquiries of houses with which his employers had had business transactions, so he was in a position to prove by written evidence the particulars and the exact sum of each fraudulent transaction. These inquiries had been carried on privately; neither to Mr. Roberts, nor to any member of his staff, had he let fall a word calculated to awaken suspicion. It was late on a Saturday night when Cadwgan finished his labours. When descending from his office down to the large entrance hall, with his papers in his hand, he was surprised to find Mr. McLiver and his cousin Donald there. They did not stop to speak, but passed on into their own office. As they heard Mr. Wynn, before he descended, shut his office door and lock it, they naturally concluded he was the last person in the buildings. Presently, McLiver and Donald left the house together, the porter closing the door on their descending into the street.

That evening was anxiously spent by Mr. Wynn. He retired to rest late, but slept not. That the facts he possessed would be most damaging to his arch-enemy there could be no doubt; that he might possibly be the means of saving his employers from being ruined, was in his judgment equally certain.

On the following Sunday morning Cadwgan paid a visit to his friend Mr. Owen Jones, to whom he revealed the state of affairs of the firm. Mr. Jones was a man of the world, and, moreover, was a wise and sagacious man of business. After talking over the matter, it was arranged that Mr. Jones should accompany his young friend to the establishment of Messrs. Davies, Roberts & Company the next morning, when the whole facts should be placed before Mr. Roberts.

On their arrival at the establishment on Monday morning, Mr. Jones and Cadwgan at once went to Mr. Roberts’ private office, when that gentleman looked at Mr. Wynn with a hard and scowling brow. As Mr. Jones had always experienced the greatest kindness from Mr. Roberts (they had been more like brothers than friends), he was surprised and astonished in observing his altered look, and boldly asked the cause of his seeming displeasure.

“Cause, sir!” exclaimed Mr. Roberts. “Did you say cause! There is methinks enough of cause! To be robbed of £3000 by this young man, whom you introduced to me, for whom I have done so much, whose interest and welfare I have done so much to promote—’tis enough to make me curse the day on which I was weak and foolish enough to comply with your pressing request to take him into my service. Cause, indeed! To be robbed thus is a sufficient cause for my anger.”

“Did you say, sir,” remarked Cadwgan, “that I had robbed you of £3000?”

“Certainly, I said so. And you don’t deny it.”

“I emphatically deny your charge, sir, and demand the name of my accuser.”

“I accuse you, sir. Is not that enough?”

“But, Mr. Roberts, you are a just man, and I presume you will not condemn me before placing in my possession the evidence upon which your judgment rests.”

“My informant, sir, is my confidential clerk, Mr. McLiver. He is prepared to swear to the fact of your being the robber, and his cousin Donald will corroborate his statement.”

McLiver was then summoned by Mr. Roberts; and in reply to his inquiries stated, that on the previous Saturday evening he and his cousin had secreted themselves in the house, that during the time they were in their hiding-place Mr. Wynn came down from his own room and went into the cashier’s office, and by means of false keys opened the safe and rifled the drawers of their contents, which he put into a bag, then retired. He continued to say, that he and his cousin waited there some time, that Mr. Wynn went back to his own office, and afterwards came down stairs with the bag in his hand, which was so heavy that he was almost weighed down. He left the office taking the bag of gold with him. Donald corroborated his cousin’s statement.

Mr. Jones, as was natural, appeared much excited during the Scotchman’s narrative. He almost believed in his young friend’s guilt, because the evidence was so direct and circumstantial. Mr. Wynn stood calm and collected; he never moved during the few minutes which the delivery of the evidence against him occupied, though his dark piercing eye, intently fixed upon McLiver, made that man quail beneath its penetrating glance. When they had finished their story, Mr. Wynn asked his employer’s permission to call evidence in his favour,—a request which was readily acceded to, because he really loved the youth. He then called into the office, one by one, six of his confidential clerks, the gentlemen who had been specially engaged with him in investigating the old accounts, who, in reply to his question, said that Mr. Wynn never left the office until his final departure, which was very late, and that they watched him going out though unperceived. The care-taker gave evidence that Mr. Wynn did not return after his departure. When they had completed the evidence, Mr. McLiver asked, “And what were you doing at the office that time of night?”

“We were engaged in making copies of important documents for Mr. Wynn.”

“What became of those?” asked Mr. Roberts.

“They were all put, sir, into Mr. Wynn’s bag.”

“Who put them into the bag?”

“We did, sir,” replied Mr. Williams.

“Was the bag locked, Mr. Williams?”

“Yes, sir, it was locked; and the key has been in my possession since.”

“Before we examine the contents of the bag I wish to know if you are quite sure that Mr. Wynn did not leave the office during any portion of the evening, that is, before his final departure; and that you and your fellow-clerks saw him out.”

They replied, that they were prepared to make oath on the point.

“Why did you watch his departure?” asked Mr. Roberts.

“I had overheard a conversation,” said Mr. Williams, the clerk of Mr. Wynn’s department, “between Mr. McLiver and his cousin Donald, in which certain threatening words were used towards Mr. Wynn. We watched his departure, thinking it quite possible that they might be lurking about the buildings in order to effect his ruin.”

When McLiver and Donald heard the above evidence they became agitated, and their faces became as white as snow. Mr. Roberts scarcely knew what to do. After considering a few minutes, he turned to McLiver, saying, “I fear your tale is untrue; for these six gentlemen, whom I have always found truthful and honourable, have in the most direct manner flatly contradicted you in every particular. I hope you and your cousin have not conspired to injure this young man.”

“You have hit the right nail on the head this time,” said Mr. Jones, “and no mistake. But is this £3000 the whole of your loss, friend Roberts?”

“The whole as far as I know.”

“Happy man! what a blessed thing it is to be rich, and unable to reckon up the whole of one’s profits.”

“I suppose, Jones,” remarked Mr. Roberts pettishly, “you wouldn’t like to lose £3000.”

“I am afraid, my friend, you will find your loss not £3000, but nine times three, if the £3000 has really disappeared.”

“What do you really mean, Jones? You appear to know more of my affairs than I know myself.”

“In a few words, I mean to say, Roberts, that that immaculate gentleman, the accuser of my young friend here, who is also the best friend you ever had, has robbed you to the tune of some £25,000, in addition to this £3000; for I presume he has taken that sum too; and Mr. Wynn has evidence in his bag,—it is still locked,—which will completely substantiate the fact. When you know the whole, you’ll bless the day, friend Roberts, on which my child was introduced into your establishment.”

“For the present we will suspend our judgment. Jones, Mr. Wynn, all of you, go to Mr. Wynn’s office. We will compare Mr. Wynn’s papers with our ledgers and day books.” The bag was unlocked, and paper after paper was produced, and document after document submitted for inspection and comparison. Cadwgan detailed step by step his proceedings in order to ascertain the exact sum total of the money abstracted by Mr. McLiver and Donald. After he had gone through these, he produced the documents and vouchers he had collected from firms with which Messrs. Davies, Roberts & Company had had transactions, and on being compared with the ledger, it was found that in many cases the actual sum paid to merchants for goods did not amount to a moiety of the sum inserted in the ledger. The evidence of McLiver’s guilt was overwhelming. When Mr. Roberts saw this, he took Mr. Wynn into his arms, embraced him as if he was his own child, and with tears in his eyes besought his pardon for having for a moment entertained suspicions of his honesty and rectitude.

“The matter to me is now made plain. The real culprit is the man whom I regarded as upright, pure, and honest. He has shamefully abused my confidence. To him I entrusted my money; and what, sir,” turning to McLiver, “have you to say in your defence?”

“I will neither acknowledge nor deny my guilt, sir, in the presence of that Welsh puppy, who is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a caitiff cut-throat miscreant, a cunning, intriguing, and deceitful urchin from the Welsh mountains. When he meets me and Donald in the street, I promise him he shall be well paid for his treachery and circumvention.”

“That is,” said Mr. Roberts, “on condition you leave me a free man. For the present, sir, you must consider yourself and your cousin—I believe him to be equally guilty with yourself—in the hands of the authorities. The officers of justice are now in an adjoining room. They are there awaiting my orders. There is no occasion to detain them, as your guilt is but too clearly made out.”

The door was then opened, and McLiver and Donald were placed in their charge, and were marched off to prison.

On the room being cleared of the presence of all excepting Mr. Jones and Cadwgan, Mr. Roberts asked the latter how he had succeeded in making such important discoveries, and the reason which had moved him in entering upon an investigation which had cost him and his staff so much time and labour.

“For a long time, sir, I have firmly believed in his dishonesty. In the first place, and this fact first awakened my suspicion, I, by means which it is unnecessary for me to detail, ascertained that he was keeping a grand house, and had livery servants and carriages, and gave grand parties, which I knew he could not do with £400 a year. His cousin, Donald, is a fast young man who spent his earnings in dissipation, and for years has been the constant companion of young men who are believed to live by swindling their respective employers. On making these discoveries, Mr. Sykes, who is an honest Yorkshireman, and my friend Mr. Williams, resolved to take special notice of their movements, and wisely kept records of what they saw and heard, which could at any time be produced in the event of anything turning up. We discovered first, that tea had been bought by your house of a very inferior quality, which was paid for at double the actual invoice price, and in some cases the charge was sixty per cent above the actual cost.”

“But, Mr. Wynn, how did he manage this?”

“Oh, easily enough, sir.”

“But how?”

“We found by inquiry, that McLiver had two relatives as cashiers in the houses with which you did business; and as all moneys passed through their hands, they could commit frauds to almost any extent without fear of being detected. They had confederates, so by acting together had but little difficulty in carrying out their system of plunder, especially as the books and accounts were under their control. When you made your new arrangements, they, that is, Mr. McLiver and Donald, were apprehensive that disclosures would be made, and you will remember, sir, that McLiver almost protested against your scheme.”

“I well remember, Mr. Wynn, that he was terribly angry, but little did I then think that its cause originated in fear.”

“After the appointment had been made, and we had entered upon our duties, Mr. Sykes ascertained—in short he overheard a conversation between the two in which certain threats were made towards me, and in that conversation McLiver and Donald upbraided each other about their peculation. We had thus sufficient evidence to warrant us in concluding that they had robbed you. Having discovered this, we then planned the investigation, which has occupied our evenings ever since. It was late on Saturday night when we arrived at the final result. The rest you know.”

“Yes, yes, Cadwgan, I know the rest. In the presence of my dear and valued friend Jones, I offer you my humblest apology for having suspected you of dishonesty; I shall never be able to repay you for the services you have rendered me.”

“I’m repaid already by your confidence and esteem.”

“And hereafter, Mr. Wynn, I will seek to do so in a more substantial way. But tell me, what can you possibly know about the quality of tea? You remarked just now it was inferior; how did you ascertain this?”

“I know the quality of teas by the smell.” {178}

“By the smell!”

“Yes, sir; by the smell.”

“Is that really so?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Here are two samples: please give me your judgment upon them.”

Mr. Wynn took the samples, and having smelt them, returned them to his employer, saying, this is worth so much, the other sample is not worth buying.

“Well, Mr. Wynn, I am satisfied, and more than satisfied, with your conduct during the years you have been in our house. For your goodness, and the deep interest you have taken in all matters connected with my affairs, from the bottom of my heart I thank you. You are necessarily agitated by reason of the scene through which you have just passed. You must be fatigued too by reason of the extra work you have, for my sake, imposed upon yourself. I cannot now say in what way I shall reward you, but if you and friend Jones will come and dine at my house (bring Mrs. Jones and your daughter with you), I will then tell you the course I shall adopt, and the arrangements I propose to make with reference to your position and prospects. Your disinterested service calls for an ample reward.”

“I require no reward, Mr. Roberts,” said Cadwgan. “I have simply done my duty.”

“Well, well, Mr. Wynn, you may think so. You must not, however, condemn me for holding the contrary opinion.”

“I should esteem it a favour, sir, if you would give Mr. Sykes and Mr. Williams a holiday. They are not well, and I fear the pressure upon them during the past few weeks has overtaxed their strength.”

“By all means let them go. Please give them this, and tell them it is a small token of my high appreciation of their conduct.”

Mr. Wynn was delighted at being made the channel of Mr. Roberts’s communication. When the papers were opened, it was found that they were two £10 Bank of England notes. On receiving the gift, the Yorkshireman held it up, and said,—“I little expected this.” Mr. Williams, too, was equally surprised. They then wished each other good morning, and it need hardly be said that Mr. Wynn’s assistants thoroughly enjoyed their day’s trip to Windsor.