had to give the bill up."

"Ah!" said Mallow meaningly, "I see now the hold you had over Basil."

"Yes, that was my hold. I did not want to give up the bill. But it had
been met, and as Miss Loach is dead, there was a difficulty in proving
the signature to be a forgery. I therefore gave the bill to Miss
Saxon. She knew of her brother's guilt--"

"I see--I see," murmured Cuthbert, wondering if she had been shielding
Basil as well as him. "My poor girl!"

"She is a brave girl," said Hale, in a voice of reluctant admiration.
"She met me and fought for her brother. I gave way, as I did not wish
to make trouble. Why, it doesn't matter. However, you see how things
stand. Basil is a forger. If his mother knew that he was in danger of
being arrested she would consent to your marriage, and then I might
marry Maraquito. I have come here to tell you this."

"But if Miss Saxon has the bill, and there is a difficulty of proving
the signature, owing to Miss Loach's death, I don't see--"

"Ah, not in this case. But Basil Saxon forged my name also. I hold a
forged check. I met it and said nothing about it. Basil, thinking
because his sister held the bill that he was out of my power, was most
insolent. But I said nothing of the check which he thought I never
detected. The more fool he. He must have a fine opinion of my business
capacity. However, as the check is only for fifty hounds, he probably
thought that it would escape my notice. Well, you see how I can force
Mrs. Octagon's hand. What do you say?"

Mallow put his hands to his head quite bewildered by the information.

"You must give me time to think," he said, "but if I consent--"

"You marry Miss Saxon. I ask no reward for my services. All I want is
to get you out of my way as regards Maraquito. I will give you the
forged check on the day you wed Miss Saxon. I can see," added Hale,
rising, "that you are somewhat upset with this news, and no wonder.
You never thought Basil was such a scoundrel."

"I thought him a fool, never a knave."

"My dear sir, he is a thoroughly bad man," said Hale cynically, "though
I daresay other people are just as bad. However, I will give you a week
to think over the matter. Good-night."

"Good-night," said Mallow, touching the bell, but without meeting the
gaze of Hale, "I will think over what you have said."

"You will find it to your advantage to do so," replied Hale, and went
out of the room at the heels of the ser