“Do so by all means,” was the Inspector’s reply.  “Meanwhile, I’ll take down notes of your statement.”

Ramtonu went out and in a few minutes returned dragging with him triumphantly a well-dressed lad of fifteen, who seemed terribly alarmed by the company into which he was thrust.  The Inspector calmed his fears by assuring him that he would come to no harm if only he spoke the whole truth.  “You have been unwittingly made the instrument of a forgery,” he added, “and we want your help towards detecting it.”  The boy plucked up courage and answered every question put him quite candidly.  His tale corroborated Ramtonu’s in most particulars, with the addition that the tall babu had given him eight annas bakshish for cashing the cheque.  He had not seen either of the men previously, but thought he should be able to recognise one of them owing to his unusual height.

“Now, bearer,” said Mr. Henderson, “go and fetch both the clerks; bring in the tall one first, but keep an eye on the other outside and beyond earshot.”

Ramtonu left the room with alacrity and presently returned ushering Lakshminarain into the dreaded presence.  The newcomer was beside himself with terror; and when he was identified by the schoolboy as one of the men who had employed him to cash the cheque, he did not wait to be asked for an explanation.  Throwing himself at Mr. Henderson’s feet he begged for mercy, promising to reveal the entire truth.  The Inspector would make no promises but simply adjured him to make a clean breast of his share in the transaction.  Lakshminarain obeyed, and his statement, interrupted by many sobs, was duly recorded.  His accomplice was next introduced.  At first Gyanendra was inclined to put a bold face on the matter, stoutly affirming that it was a put-up affair between Pulin and Ramtonu.  When, however, the Inspector read out to him the deposition of the bearer and schoolboy, he saw that the game was up and confessed his misdoings, accusing the head clerk of having prompted them.  The culprits were taken in a ticca gari (four-wheeled cab) to the police station Pulin occupying the box, while Ramtonu ran behind.

Well, to cut a long story short, the prisoners stuck to their confession and refunded their ill-gotten gains.  They were duly committed to the High Court on charges of forgery and conspiring to accuse an innocent man of the like offence.  They both pleaded guilty, and the judge remarked that it was one of the worst cases of the kind he had ever tried.  In passing sentence of two years rigorous imprisonment on each prisoner, he added that they would have fared worse but for the patent fact that they had been made catspaws of by some one who kept in the background.  As there was no evidence against Debnath Babu, except that of accomplices, he was not prosecuted; but immediately after the trial, Messrs. Kerr & Dunlop dismissed him without notice.  Kisari Babu was promoted to the vacant office of head clerk, while Pulin stepped into