anded, ignoring both his host's criticisms and his proffered
hospitality.

"I certainly am"--he was abreast of him now, his eyes boring into
his--"just as long as he wishes to stay, which I hope will be all his
life, or until you have learned to be decent to him. And by decency, I
mean companionship, and love, and tenderness--three things which your
damned, high-toned notions have always deprived him of!" His voice was
still under control, although the emphasis was unmistakable.

Rutter made a step forward, his eyes flashing, his teeth set:

"You have the impertinence, sir, to charge me with----"

"--Yes!--and it's true and you know it's true!"--the glance, steady as
a rifle, had not wavered. "No, you needn't work yourself up into a
passion--and as for your lordly, dictatorial airs, I am past the age
when they affect me--keep them for your servants. By God!--what a farce
it all is! Let us talk of something else--I am tired of it!"

The words cut like a whip, but the Lord of Moorlands had come to get
his son, not to fight St. George. Their sting, however, had completely
changed his plans. Only the club which Gorsuch had put into his hands
would count now.

"Yes--a damnable farce!" he thundered, "and one played by a man with
beggary staring him straight in the face, and yet to hear you talk one
would think you were a Croesus! You mortgaged this house to get ready
money, did you not?" He was not sure, but this was no time in which to
split words.

St. George turned quickly: "Who told you that?"

"Is it true?"

"Yes! Do you suppose I would let Harry sneak around corners to avoid his
creditors?"

The colonel gave an involuntary start, the blood mounting to the roots
of his hair, and as suddenly paled:

"You tell me that--you dared to--pay Harry's debts?" he stammered in
amazement.

"Dared!" retorted St. George, lifting his chin contemptuously. "Really,
Talbot, you amuse me. When you set that dirty hound Gadgem on his trail,
what did you expect me to do?--invite the dog to dinner?--or have him
sleep in the house until I sold furniture enough to get rid of him?"

The colonel leaned back against the mantel's edge as if for support.
All the fight was out of him. Not only was the situation greatly
complicated, but he himself was his host's debtor. The seriousness of
the whole affair confronted him. For a brief instant he gazed at the
floor, his eyes on the hearthrug, "Have you any money left, St. George?"
he aske