said, bluntly.
"Murchison told me this afternoon."

"He didn't tell you how it was brought about, I suppose?" said Hardy.

The captain shook his head. "I didn't ask him," he said, with affected
indifference, and sat gazing out at the window as Hardy began his
narration. Two or three times he thought he saw signs of appreciation in
his listener's face, but the mouth under the heavy moustache was firm and
the eyes steady. Only when he related Swann's interview with Nathan
Smith and Kybird did the captain's features relax. He gave a chuckling
cough and, feeling for his handkerchief, blew his nose violently. Then,
with a strange gleam in his eye, he turned to the young man opposite.

"Very smart," he said, shortly.

"It was successful," said the other, modestly.

"Very," said the captain, as he rose and confronted him. "I am much
obliged, of course, for the trouble you have taken in the affairs of my
family. And now I will remind you of our agreement."

"Agreement?" repeated the other.

The captain nodded. "Your visits to me were to cease when this marriage
happened, if I wished it," he said, slowly.

"That was the arrangement," said the dumb-founded Hardy, "but I had
hoped----. Besides, it has all taken place much sooner than I had
anticipated."

"That was the bargain," said the captain, stiffly. "And now I'll bid you
good-day."

"I am sorry that my presence should be so distasteful to you," said the
mortified Hardy.

"Distasteful, sir?" said the captain, sternly. "You have forced yourself
on me for twice a week for some time past. You have insisted upon
talking on every subject under the sun, whether I liked it or not. You
have taken every opportunity of evading my wishes that you should not see
my daughter, and you wonder that I object to you. For absolute
brazenness you beat anything I have ever encountered."

"I am sorry," said Hardy, again.

"Good evening," said the captain

"Good evening."

Crestfallen and angry Hardy moved to the door, pausing with his hand on
it as the captain spoke again.

"One word more," said the older man, gazing at him oddly as he stroked
his grey beard; "if ever you try to come bothering me with your talk
again I'll forbid you the house."

"Forbid me the house?" repeated the astonished Hardy.

"That's what I said," replied the other; "that's plain English, isn't
it?"

Hardy looked at him in bewilderment; then, as the captain's meaning
dawned upon him, h