in his chair, his aspect thunderous and excited.

"Was it by your plotting, sir, that that girl got in?" said the old man,
as he entered.

Faversham stood amazed.

"What girl?"

Melrose angrily described Felicia's visit, adding that if Faversham knew
nothing about it, it was his duty to know. Dixon deserved dismissal for
his abominable conduct; "and you, sir, are paid a large salary, not only
to manage--or mismanage--my affairs, but also to protect your employer
from annoyance. I expect you to do it!"

Faversham took the charge quietly. His whole relation to Melrose
had altered so rapidly for the worse during the preceding weeks that
no injustice or unreason surprised him. And yet there was something
strange--something monstrous--in the old man's venomous temper. After
all his bribes, after all his tyranny, did he still feel something
in Faversham escape him?--some deep-driven defiance, or hope,
intangible? He seemed indeed to be always on the watch now for fresh
occasions of attack that should test his own power, and Faversham's
submission.

Presently, he abruptly left the subject of his daughter, and Faversham
did not pursue it. What was the good of inquiring into the details of the
girl's adventure? He guessed pretty accurately at what had happened; the
scorn which had been poured on the suppliant; the careless indifference
with which she had been dismissed--through the rain and the night. Yet
another scandal for a greedy neighbourhood!--another story to reach the
ears of the dwellers in a certain cottage, with the embellishments, no
doubt, which the popular hatred of both himself and Melrose was certain
to supply. He felt himself buried a little deeper under the stoning of
his fellows. But at the same time he was conscious--as of a danger
point--of a new and passionate exasperation in himself. His will must
control it.

Melrose, however, proceeded to give it fresh cause. He took up a letter
from Nash containing various complaints of Faversham, which had reached
him that evening.

"You have been browbeating our witnesses, sir! Nash reports them as
discouraged, and possibly no longer willing to come forward. What
business had you to jeopardize my interests by posing as the superior
person? The evidence had been good enough for Nash--and myself. It might
have been good enough for you."

Faversham smiled, as he lit his cigarette.

"The two men you refer to--whom you asked me to see yesterday--were a
couple