vant.

Mallow remained where he was in deep thought. It was terrible to think
that the brother of Juliet should be such a scamp. A forger and
perhaps something else. Here, indeed, was a motive for Miss Loach to
meet with her death at her nephew's hand. Probably on the night in
question she threatened to let the law take its course, and then
Basil--but at this point of his meditations a ring came at the door.
In a few moments Cuthbert heard a step he knew and rose with an
agitated air. Basil entered the room.

The young man was carefully dressed as usual in his rather affected
way, but his face was pale and he seemed uneasy. "I see you have had a
visit from Hale," he said, trying to appear at his ease.

"How do you know that?" asked Mallow abruptly, and declining to see the
proffered hand.

"I saw Hale enter a cab as I came up the stairs," said Basil, drawing
back; "and even had I not seen him I would know that he has been
telling you a lot of lies because you refuse to shake hands."

"Are they lies?"

"Ah, then, he has been talking. He is my enemy. He comes here to do
me harm," said Basil, his eyes flashing.

"He came here as your friend," replied Mallow abruptly, "Hale wishes me
to marry your sister. He offers to hand over to me a certain check if
I marry her."

"I don't know what you are talking about," cried Basil petulantly, and
threw himself into a chair, very pale.

"I think you know very well. Why have you come here?"

Basil looked sullen. "I want you to marry Juliet also. And I came to
say that I thought I could get my mother to take that money and to
withdraw her opposition."

"So that you may have the fingering of the money?"

"Oh, I suppose she will give me some," said Basil airily, and began to
roll a cigarette with deft fingers.

Mallow was enraged at this coolness. "Basil, you are a scoundrel!"

"Am I, indeed? Nice words to use to your future relative."

"How do you know I will ever be your relative. Suppose I refuse Hale's
demand, and let him proceed on this check?"

Basil's cigarette dropped our of his hand. "I don't know what check
you mean," he declared with alarm, "there was a bill--I couldn't help
myself. My aunt--"

"Gave you a lot of money and you repaid her by forging her name. But
you also forged Hale's name."

"Ah, I know what you mean now. It was only for fifty pounds."

"Had it been for fifty pence the crime is the same," said Mallow
vehemently, "why d