looked first white, then scarlet. "What do you
mean? Hiding, like the sneaking coward you are."

"You're an idiot! I came here to see the flood rising."

"At this end?" cried Richard, contemptuously. "No, you didn't. You hid
here because you saw me coming."

"What! Hide from you!" cried Mark, defiantly. "I like that! Why
should I hide from you, fiddler?"

"Because you felt what was coming out, and that I knew the miserable
cheating act of which you have been guilty."

"Here! what do you mean?" cried Mark, in a bullying tone, as he edged
up, scowling, towards him, and looked down upon the meek musician, whom
he felt he could at any moment pretty well crush.

"I mean that if poor sick Uncle James knew what I have just heard it
would break his heart."

"I don't want to hear any cant about my father," cried Mark, changing
colour a little. "Tell me what you mean, or--"

He made a menacing gesture; but, to his surprise, Richard did not
shrink.

"I mean that that wretched man has been to me about your debts."

"About my debts? Oh, you mean Simpson about his bill. Well, I don't
want your help now. I can pay him. He must wait."

"But he will not wait. He threatens to expose you if the matter is not
settled at once."

"Pooh! what is there to expose? Every fellow gets in debt more or less.
Tailors have to wait. Every fellow gets behind for his togs."

"Yes; but he does not forge his cousin's name when he wants money."

"What?" roared Mark, shaken for the moment. "Here," he cried, seizing
Richard by the arm, after a glance round to see if they were alone,
"what does this mean?"

"It means this," cried Richard passionately, "that your creditor has
been to me this morning, and has just left me, after showing me how you
have disgraced the good old name of Frayne."

"I? How?"

"How?" cried Richard, whose voice was husky from emotion; "by writing my
name to the cheque for the money you borrowed, telling the man it was
for me."

"Well, so it was!" cried Mark, seizing him by the other shoulder and
shaking him. "No backing out now!"

"What?"

"You had it nearly all. And, if it has come to this, we'll have it all
out now. What do you mean about the cheque?"

"I mean that you forged my name. I knew nothing of it till just now."

"I--I--did what?" cried Mark, as if astounded.

"I have told you. Take your dirty hands off me! It is disgrace enough,
without--"

"I--I put your name to a cheq