He writhed under the cold and cutting scorn of her words and her voice,
the evil temper in him worked uppermost.

"So--so that's the talk, is it?" he cried with a foul oath. "That's it,
is it? You--you two-penny ha'penny--" He choked foolishly over his
words.

"You!" he gasped, "what are you? What have you been? What about you
and--"

Again he was silent, writhing with rage.

"Money--yes, it is money-talk, then, and by thunder I'll make you pay!
I'll bleed you white, you cursed--" Again more foolish oaths, the clumsy
cursing of a man in the grip of passion.

"You shall pay! It's money-talk, yes--you shall pay! We will talk in
thousands, my girl. I said five thousand. It isn't enough--what is your
good name worth, eh? What is it worth to you? I could paint you a nice
colour, couldn't I? What will this fellow Everard say when I tell him
what I can tell him? How the village fools will talk it over in their
alehouse, eh? And in the cottages, how they will stare at Miss Meredyth
of Starden when she takes her walks abroad. They'll wink at one another,
won't they. They'll remember! Trust 'em, they'll never forget!"

She felt sickened, faint, and horrified, yet she gave no sign.

"Money you said!" he shouted, "and money it shall be! Ten thousand
pounds, or I'll give you away, so that every man and woman in Starden
will count 'emselves your betters! I'll give you away to the poor fool
you think you are going to marry! There won't be any wedding. I'll swear
a man couldn't marry a thing--with such a name as I shall give you!
Money, yes! you'll pay! I want ten thousand pounds! Not five, remember,
but ten, and perhaps more to follow. And if you don't pay, there won't
be many who will not have heard about your imaginary marriage to that
dog, Hugh Alston."

The girl drew a deep shuddering sigh. She pressed her hands over her
breast. From the shadows about the old barn a deeper shadow moved,
something vaulted the gate lightly and came down with a thud on the
ground beside Mr. Philip Slotman.

"Joan," said a voice, "you will go away and leave this man to me. I will
attend to the paying of him."

Slotman turned, his rage gone, a cold sweat of fear bursting out on his
forehead; his loose jaw sagged.

"A--a trap," he gasped.

"To catch a rat! And the rat is caught! Joan, go. I will follow
presently."

No word passed between the two men as they watched the girl's figure
down the road. She walked slowly; once she seemed t