s after him.
If he waited till the police or some of the roughs came and ejected him
he could not be much worse off; and there was a chance that, by
remaining, he might still be able to pacify his evil genius.

So he stayed. Another quarter of an hour passed; no one came to turn
him out. A few customers came into the bar and were served by the sulky
potboy, but there was no sign of Cripps.

"Go and tell your master I'm here still, and want to see him
particularly," said Loman, presently, to the boy.

The boy looked up and scowled and rubbed his ear, but somehow that
timely blow of Loman's had wrought wonders with his spirit, for he
quietly went off and did as he was bid.

In a few minutes he came back and delivered the laconic message, "You're
got to wait."

This was satisfactory as far as it went. Loman did wait, simmering
inwardly all the time, and not wholly losing his desperation before once
again Cripps appeared and beckoned him inside.

"Here's the rest of the money," said Loman, hurriedly. "You can give me
back the bill now, Cripps."

Cripps took up the money, counted it and pocketed it, and then turned on
his victim with an impudent smile.

"Give me the bill," repeated Loman, suddenly turning pale with the
dreadful misgiving that after all he had not got rid of the blackguard.

"What do you want the bill for?" asked Cripps, laughing.

"Want it for? Why, Cripps--" and here Loman stopped short.

"Fire away," said Cripps.

"I've paid you all I owe," said Loman, trembling.

"What if you have?"

"Then give me back that bill!"

Cripps only laughed--a laugh which drove the boy frantic. The villain
was going to play him false after all. He had got the money, every
farthing of it, and now he was going to retain the bill which contained
Loman's promise to pay the whole amount! Poor Loman, he was no match in
cunning for this rogue. Who would believe him that he had paid, when
Cripps was still able to produce the promise signed with his own name to
do so?

Bitterly did the boy repent the day when first, by a yielding to deceit,
he had put himself in the power of such a villain!

He was too confounded and panic-struck to attempt either argument or
persuasion. He felt himself ruined, and muttering, in a voice which
trembled with misery, "I must tell father all about it," he turned to
go.

Oh, Loman! Why have you left such a resolve till now? Why, like that
other prodigal, have you waited ti