them."

"But what is this to me?" shouted Sir Hugh.

"A great deal to you," screamed back Madam Gordeloup. "You see I know
every thing--every thing. I have got papers."

"What do I care for your papers? Look here Madam Gordeloup, you had
better go away."

"Not yet, Sir 'Oo, not yet. You are going away to Norway--I know; and I
am ruined before you come back."

"Look here, madam, do you mean that you want money from me?"

"I want my rights, Sir 'Oo. Remember, I know every thing--every
thing--oh, such things! If they were all known--in the newspapers, you
understand, or that kind of thing, that lady in Bolton Street would lose
all her money to-morrow. Yes. There is uncles to the little lord; yes!
Ah! how much would they give me, I wonder? They would not tell me to go
away."

Sophie was perhaps justified in the estimate she had made of Sir Hugh's
probable character from the knowledge which she had acquired of his
brother Archie; but, nevertheless, she had fallen into a great mistake.
There could hardly have been a man then in London less likely to fall
into her present views than Sir Hugh Clavering. Not only was he too fond
of his money to give it away without knowing why he did so, but he was
subject to none of that weakness by which some men are prompted to
submit to such extortions. Had he believed her story, and had Lady Ongar
been really dear to him, he would never have dealt with such a one as
Madam Gordeloup otherwise than through the police.

"Madam Gordeloup," said he, "if you don't immediately take yourself off;
I shall have you put out of the house."

He would have sent for a constable at once, had he not feared that by
doing so he would retard his journey.

"What!" said Sophie, whose courage was as good as his own. "Me put out
of the house! Who shall touch me?"

"My servant shall; or, if that will not do, the police. Come, walk." And
he stepped over toward her as though he himself intended to assist in
her expulsion by violence.

"Well, you are there; I see you; and what next?" said Sophie. "You, and
your valk! I can tell you things fit for you to know, and you say, valk.
If I valk, I will valk to some purpose. I do not often valk for nothing
when I am told--valk!" Upon this Sir Hugh rang the bell with some
violence. "I care nothing for your bells, or for your servants, or for
your policemen. I have told you that your sister owe me a great deal of
money, and you say--valk. I will valk." Thereupon