For the purpose of justification each of the individual sureties for bail, or an authorized agent of the corporate surety for bail, shall appear before the judge or clerk at the time and place mentioned in the notice, and may be examined on oath, on the part of the plaintiff, touching his sufficiency, in such manner as the judge or clerk in his discretion may think proper. The examination shall be reduced to writing and subscribed by the individual surety or the agent for the corporate surety, if required by the plaintiff.