'And have you determined which of the London partners is the culprit on this end?' Ragoczy glanced swiftly at John Henry, all the while studying the pages.
'I I cannot be certain, though Mr Lamkin is in the best position to do it,' he said. 'If the trouble comes from that part of the firm.'
'So I think, as well,' agreed Ragoczy, then perused the figures John Henry had supplied him a third time. 'How is it,' he mused aloud, 'that this can have gone on for so long without someone catching the errors? Do you know?'
John Henry had an answer for him. 'I've been thinking about that, and I suppose it is because your ledger has not been copied until now. You are not often in London, and when you are, you rarely call here. The entries have been made with great correctness and regularity, and by a senior member of the firm, and so there would be no occasion to doubt what had been done, unless you were suspicious from the first. And since the errors could not be easily seen without extensive comparisons, I would imagine it would be surprising to have them found.'
Ragoczy nodded. 'But what possessed them to give you the ledger to copy, do you suppose?'
'It is an old ledger. Your family has long done business with us, or so I would suppose.' He lowered his eyes. 'The account has been here for a very long time. More than thirty years from the entries in the ledger, for there are figures that have been carried forward from earlier entries in what would have to be an older record-book.'
'It is a reasonable assumption, Mr Brodribb,' said Ragoczy. 'And you doubt that I was signing documents thirty years ago?'
'Possibly not,' said John Henry. 'For you are not much more than forty, judging by your appearance.' He wanted to say more, but could not bring himself to go on.
'What is it?' Ragoczy prompted in a neutral voice.
This time John Henry found it difficult to answer. 'It is only that I observe people closely. It is what I must do if I am to be a good actor.' He collected himself and said in a rush, 'I have noticed something about your eyes. They are not as other eyes I have seen, except, occasionally, in the very old, who have kept their strength and their wits.'
Ragoczy nodded. 'I am older than I appear,' he said without obvious emotion. 'Those of my blood do not show their years.'
John Henry made a nervous gesture, his burst of confidence deserting him. 'I thought it might be something like that. There is a world-weariness that Foreigners are not as easily' He began to flounder in a number of half- finished words.
'Let us return to these records,' suggested Ragoczy. 'There is much to finish, and I want it accomplished tonight, if that is possible.'
'But you must' John Henry broke off, indicating Ragoczy's finery.
Ragoczy smiled and shook his head. 'I have come from a reception; there is a banquet in progress even now.'
John Henry was more startled than ever. 'I would have thought you would prefer to attend the banquet than look over figures. It is an honour to be invited to such an event.' He managed a quick, quirky smile. 'Surely the fare at so elegant a function is better than what you can purchase from the local publican, and that is likely to be your lot if we work much later.'
'It is certainly more elaborate, and my needs, in that regard, are simple,' said Ragoczy.
'Oh,' said John Henry, hoping to imply he understood what Ragoczy meant, though he knew he did not.
'How inconsiderate of me. I ask you to forgive my rudeness. Are you hungry?' Ragoczy enquired suddenly. 'If you are, I will wait while you purchase something to eat.'
'No,' said John Henry quickly. 'I made a good collation for tea, and it will suit me well enough. I want to continue with your records.'
'Let us look at the records from Greece,' Ragoczy recommended, opening the page in question. 'As you have indicated, the entries there begin in 1828,' he added as he ran his finger down the second page of the ledger. 'It would appear that the first few years were without incident. All the entries tally, by the look of them. Would you agree?'
'Your family has traded in spices for a long time, haven't they, Count? The indication here is that your account with the spice traders in Arabia is an old one. And the entries from Egypt are of long standing,' commented John Henry as he allowed himself to be drawn back into the haven of numbers.
'Yes,' said Ragoczy. He inspected the pages closely and in silence for several minutes, and then looked over at John Henry. 'I gather that the senior clerk was a Mr Boulton for many years.'
'I've heard that,' said John Henry, cautiously.
'And Mr Boulton was a relative of sorts of the founder?' asked Ragoczy.
'Yes, that is my understanding,' said John Henry, his confidence again increasing. 'He died more than twenty years ago; at least that's what I've been told.'
'Yes,' said Ragoczy. 'And the uncle of Mr Tubbs took his place. A Mr Harbridge. This looks to be the place where the trouble starts.'
'So you think that Mr Tubbs is aware of what is going on?' asked John Henry, doing his best not to be shocked by this suspicion.
'It is possible. He certainly was not eager to have me review these accounts, as you will recall, which, under the circumstances, is significant,' said Ragoczy. 'How long has he been senior clerk?'
'Mr Tubbs? About four years, I think. Four or five.' He looked around the office as if he expected to be overheard. 'He was given quick advancement through the graces of his uncle, or so two of the clerks say.' He cleared his throat, and continued. 'He was already the senior when I was taken on here.'
'Perhaps the partners expected him to protect their interests, and perhaps his uncle advanced him in order to conceal his thefts,' said Ragoczy, his face growing sombre. 'Whatever the case, I will have to put a stop to this, I
