where there was paper concerned. No one could escape the hands of British Law if he had once given himself away in a written document!
This flank attack of the Evil One determined the Philosopher. In a subdued voice he broke the long silence. He said—
"Give me the pen!"
Jimmy solemnly dipped the pen in the ink and handed it to him, not releasing the chequebook, but tearing out the cheque form for him to sign; and as he did so the unseen Serpent smiled. In a hand as bold as he could assume Professor Higginson deliberately wrote at the bottom right hand-corner the fatal words "John Brassington."
He was beginning to fill in the amount, when to his astonishment the cheque was snatched from his hands, while Jimmy thundered out—
"Do you suppose, sir, that you can deceive us in such a childish way as that? Does a man ever sign his cheque like a copybook?"
He glared at the signature.
"It 's faked! That 's no more your signature, Old Brassington, than it 's mine!" he shouted. "That 's how you write."
With the words he pulled a note from his pocket and tossed it to the unhappy man.
