w me--leave him to me for the present, please."

"That's much better," whispered Paradine approvingly; "capital. Keep it
up, my boy; keep it up! Papa's as quiet as a lamb now. Go on."

Then Paul understood; his worthy brother-in-law had not been present at
the last transformation and was under a slight misapprehension: he
evidently imagined that he had by this last stroke made himself and Dick
masters of the situation--it was time to undeceive him.

"Have the goodness to leave my house at once, will you!" he said
sternly.

"You young fool!" said Marmaduke, under his breath, "after all I have
done for you, too! Is this your gratitude? You know you can't get on
without me. Take care what you're about!"

"If you can't see that the tables are turned at last," said Paul slowly,
"you're a duller knave than I take you to be."

Marmaduke started back with an oath: "It's a trick," he said savagely;
"you want to get rid of me."

"I certainly intend to," said Paul. "Are you satisfied? Do you want
proofs--shall I give them--I did just now in the billiard-room?"

Paradine went to Dick and shook him angrily: "You young idiot!" he said,
in a furious aside, "why didn't you tell me? What did you let me make a
fool of myself like this for, eh?"

"I did tell you," muttered Dick, "only you wouldn't listen. It just
serves you right!"

Marmaduke soon collected himself after this unexpected shock; he tried
to shake Paul's hands with an airy geniality. "Only my little joke," he
said, laughing; "ha, ha, I thought I should take you in!... Why, I knew
it directly.... I've been working for you all the time--but it wouldn't
have done to let you see my line."

"No," said Paul; "it was not a very straight one, as usual."

"Well," said Marmaduke, "I shouldn't have stopped Master Dick there if I
hadn't been on your side, should I now? I knew you'd come out of it all
right, but I had a difficult game to play, don't you know? I don't
wonder that you didn't follow me just at first."

"You've lost your game," said Paul; "it's no use to say any more. So
now, perhaps, you'll go?"

"Go, eh?" said Paradine, without showing much surprise at the failure
of so very forlorn a hope, "oh, very well, just as you please, of
course. Let your poor wife's only brother go from your doors without a
penny in the world!--but I warn you that a trifle or so laid out in
stopping my mouth would not be thrown away. Some editors would be glad
enough of a sensation