is pipe, he strolled downstairs
once more.

His father was standing in front of the fire, and in no very good
humour, as his red face and puckered eyes sufficed to show.

"Well, Robert," he began, "I suppose that, as usual, you have spent your
morning plotting against your father?"

"What do you mean, father?"

"I mean what I say. What is it but plotting when three folk--you and she
and this Raffles Haw--whisper and arrange and have meetings without a
word to me about it? What do I know of your plans?"

"I cannot tell you secrets which are not my own, father."

"But I'll have a voice in the matter, for all that. Secrets or no
secrets, you will find that Laura has a father, and that he is not a man
to be set aside. I may have had my ups and downs in trade, but I have
not quite fallen so low that I am nothing in my own family. What am I to
get out of this precious marriage?"

"What should you get? Surely Laura's happiness and welfare are enough
for you?"

"If this man were really fond of Laura he would show proper
consideration for Laura's father. It was only yesterday that I asked him
for a loan-condescended actually to ask for it--I, who have been within
an ace of being Mayor of Birmingham! And he refused me point blank."

"Oh, father! How could you expose yourself to such humiliation?"

"Refused me point blank!" cried the old man excitedly. "It was against
his principles, if you please. But I'll be even with him--you see if I
am not. I know one or two things about him. What is it they call him at
the Three Pigeons? A 'smasher'--that's the word-a coiner of false
money. Why else should he have this metal sent him, and that great smoky
chimney of his going all day?"

"Why can you not leave him alone, father?" expostulated Robert. "You
seem to think of nothing but his money. If he had not a penny he would
still be a very kind-hearted, pleasant gentleman."

Old McIntyre burst into a hoarse laugh.

"I like to hear you preach," said he. "Without a penny, indeed! Do you
think that you would dance attendance upon him if he were a poor man?
Do you think that Laura would ever have looked twice at him? You know as
well as I do that she is marrying him only for his money."

Robert gave a cry of dismay. There was the alchemist standing in the
doorway, pale and silent, looking from one to the other of them with his
searching eyes.

"I must apologise," he said coldly. "I did not mean to listen to your
words. I could