"
But the clerk's suspicions had been aroused by what had been
said.
"I will first speak to Mr. Ball," he said.
"There is no occasion to speak to him. I shall not sell the ring
to-day. To-morrow, I will come with witnesses whose testimony
will outweigh that of this gentleman, who I suspect never was in
Hayfield Centre in his life. I will trouble you for the ring."
"I hope you don't intend to give it to him," said the gentleman.
"The presumption is that, as he is masquerading, he has not come
by it honestly."
"I shall not deign to notice your insinuations," said Mr.
Montgomery, who concealed beneath a consequential tone his real
uneasiness. "The ring, if you please."
"Don't give it to him."
As the clerk seemed disinclined to surrender the ring, Mr.
Montgomery said: "Young man, you will find it to be a serious
matter to withhold my property."
"Perhaps I had better give it to him," said the clerk, imposed
upon by the adventurer's manner.
"Require him to prove property. If it is really his, he can
readily do this."
"My dear," said the Rev. Mr. Barnes, "we will leave the store."
"What, and leave the ring?"
"For the present. I will invoke the aid of the police to save me
from being robbed in this extraordinary manner.
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