Major Pendennis? I've found it out too. Look here! I ain't goin'
to be unreasonable with you. Make it worth my while, and I'll keep the
thing close. Let Mr. Arthur take his seat, and his rich wife, if you
like; I don't want to marry her. But I will have my share, as sure as my
name's James Morgan. And if I don't----"

"And if you don't, sir--what?" Pendennis asked.

"If I don't, I split, and tell all. I smash Clavering, and have him
and his wife up for bigamy--so help me, I will! I smash young Hopeful's
marriage, and I show up you and him as makin' use of this secret, in
order to squeeze a seat in Parlyment out of Sir Francis, and a fortune
out of his wife."

"Mr. Pendennis knows no more of this business than the babe unborn,
sir," cried the Major, aghast. "No more than Lady Clavering, than Miss
Amory does."

"Tell that to the marines, Major," replied the valet; "that cock won't
fight with me."

"Do you doubt my word, you villain?"

"No bad language. I don't care one twopence'a'p'ny whether your word's
true or not. I tell you, I intend this to be a nice little annuity to
me, Major: for I have every one of you; and I ain't such a fool as to
let you go. I should say that you might make it five hundred a year to
me among you, easy. Pay me down the first quarter now and I'm as mum as
a mouse. Just give a note for one twenty-five. There's your cheque-book
on your desk."

"And there's this too, you villain," cried the old gentleman. In the
desk to which the valet pointed was a little double-barrelled
pistol, which had belonged to Pendennis's old patron; the Indian
commander-in-chief, and which had accompanied him in many a campaign.
"One more word, you scoundrel and I'll shoot you, like a mad dog.
Stop--by Jove, I'll do it now. You'll assault me, will you? You'll
strike at an old man, will you, you lying coward? Kneel down and say
your prayers, sir, for by the Lord you shall die."

The Major's face glared with rage at his adversary, who looked terrified
before him for a moment, and at the next, with a shriek of "Murder!"
sprang towards the open window, under which a policeman happened to be
on his beat. "Murder! Police!" bellowed Mr. Morgan.

To his surprise, Major Pendennis wheeled away the table and walked to
the other window, which was also open. He beckoned the policeman. "Come
up here, policeman," he said, and then went and placed himself against
the door.

"You miserable sneak," he said to Morgan; "the pist