if I could not prove that my assets exceed my liabilities by more than three millions?" To a strictly honorable man, the thought, the possibility of suspicion tarnishing his fair name, is cruel suffering. The banker suffered, and the commissary of police saw it, and felt for him. "Be calm, monsieur," said he; "before the end of a week justice will have collected sufficient proof to establish the guilt of this unfortunate man, whom we may now recall." Prosper entered with Fanferlot, whom they had much trouble to awaken, and with the most stolid indifference listened to the announcement of his arrest. In response, he calmly said: "I swear that I am innocent." M. Fauvel, much more disturbed and excited than his cashier, made a last attempt. "It is not too late yet, poor boy," he said: "for Heaven's sake reflect—" Prosper did not appear to hear him. He drew from his pocket a small key, which he laid on the table, and said: "Here is the key to your safe, monsieur. I hope for my sake that you will someday be convinced of my innocence; and I hope for your sake that the conviction will not come too late." Then, as everyone was silent, he resumed: "Before leaving I hand over to you the books, papers, and accounts necessary for my successor. I must at the same time inform you that, without speaking of the stolen three hundred and fifty thousand francs, I leave a deficit in cash." "A deficit!" This ominous word from the lips of a cashier fell like a bombshell upon the ears of Prosper's hearers. His declaration was interpreted in diverse ways. "A deficit!" thought the commissary: "how, after this, can his guilt be doubted? Before stealing the whole contents of the safe, he has kept his hand in by occasional small thefts.""A deficit!" said the detective to himself, "now, no doubt, the very innocence of this poor devil gives his conduct an appearance of great depravity; were he guilty, he would have replaced the first money by a portion of the second."

The grave importance of Prosper's statement was considerably diminished by the explanation he proceeded to make.

"There is a deficit of three thousand five hundred francs on my cash account, which has been disposed of in the following manner: two thousand taken by myself in advance on my salary; fifteen hundred advanced to several of my fellow-clerks. This is the last day of the month; tomorrow the salaries will be paid, consequently--"

The commissary interrupted him:

"Were you authorized to draw money whenever you wished to advance the clerks' pay?"

"No; but I knew that M. 

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