e, and say what shall I do
for you first?"

Rich stood before him pale, and with her eyes flashing in a way that
penetrated even the thick hide of his vanity, and was unmistakable.

"Look here," he said angrily, "don't go on like that. It makes a fellow
feel put out."

Richmond once more essayed to leave the room, but Poynter stayed her.

"Look here," he said, "I'm a City man, I am. I began life with nothing,
but I said to myself I'd make my fortune, and I've made it. While other
fellows were fooling about, I worked till I could afford to do as they
did, and then, perhaps, I had my turn. Then I saw you, and when I had
seen you I said to myself that's the woman for my wife."

"Mr Poynter!"

"Yes, and some day it shall be Mrs Poynter. I said it should, and so
it shall!"

"Mr Poynter, will you leave this house?"

"No, I won't," he replied bitterly, "not till you've thrown all this
nonsense aside, and made friends. What a temper! Now, look here, Rich,
I've been afraid of you. I've come here to see the doctor, and I've
shivered when I've seen you. I've wanted to speak to you, but my tongue
has seemed to stick to the roof of my mouth; but that's all over now,
and we're going to understand one another before I go."

"Sir, this is insolence!"

"Insolence!" he said, with the champagne effervescing as it were, in his
veins. "No, it's love."

Richmond rang the bell.

"Bah!" he said, "what of that? When the girl comes--if she does--I
shall tell her to go, for I mean to be master here now."

"Coward!"

"No, not a coward now," he replied, laughing. "Rich, do you know what I
can do if I like? I can come down on brother Hendon for all he owes me,
and how would it be then?"

Richmond winced, and the flush in her cheeks paled away, while Poynter
saw it, and went on:

"What should you say if I was to act like a business man would, and come
down on your father!"

"What? My father! He does not owe you money?"

"Doesn't he!" said Poynter, with a mocking laugh. "You see you don't
know everything, my dear. Come, what's it going to be--peace or war?"

"War!" said Richmond firmly. "My father cannot owe you money, and as to
my brother, he would sooner die than see his sister sold as a slave to
pay his debts."

"Would he?" snarled Poynter. "Why he's as weak as water; I can turn him
around my thumb. You tried to keep him away. He wouldn't own it; but I
know. He came, though, all the same, when I aske