t's and
banker's accounts, and satisfying himself that all was absolutely
correct and in order. He countersigned the balance-sheet, and went out
of his way to thank Captain Oliphant for taking so much of the labour as
to save both him and Mrs Ingleton a great deal of time.

"Thank you," said the captain drily; "a compliment from Signor Francisco
is worth receiving. But it is uncalled-for. Good afternoon, sir."

Mr Armstrong flushed, and screwed his glass violently in his eye.

"A civil, pleasant-spoken gentleman," said he to himself as he returned
to his room.

A few days later, the day before the birthday, Captain Oliphant received
a telegram couched in the following lordly terms--

"Arrive 5.30. Send trap to meet me.--Ratman."

He frowned to himself as he read it. The tone did not betoken peace.
It rather called to mind a good many unpleasant reflections, the chief
of which was that Mr Ratman would find matters no further advanced as
regarded the widow, the heir, or the tutor. The only comfort was that
he could hardly make himself disagreeable about the bill.

The coachman was sent down with the dogcart; but if Mr Ratman expected
any further demonstration of welcome, he was disappointed. Mrs
Ingleton was in bed; Jill was dining at the Rectory; Roger and Armstrong
were taking a long ride; Tom was poaching on the Maxfield preserves.
Only Captain Oliphant was at home.

"Oh, you're here to receive me, are you?" snarled the visitor. "How
long has it taken you to organise this flattering reception, I should
like to know?"

"I really have nothing to do with other persons' arrangements," said the
captain. "If they happen to be out, it's not my concern."

"But it's mine. You ought to have sent the heir down to meet me--I've
not seen him yet--and had those girls of yours here to give me afternoon
tea. Where are they?"

The captain attempted to explain.

"That won't do for me," said the visitor, "not by any means. They
should have been on the spot. When did the tutor leave?"

"He is still here."

"Still here!" said Ratman, with a curse. "Didn't I tell you he was to
be packed off before I came?"

"You said a good many things, Ratman. I expected he would have gone a
fortnight ago; but he can't be moved."

Ratman growled out a string of oaths.

"Get me some tea," said he, "and tell them to take my traps upstairs.
What time do we dine?"

"I was going to propose that we should dine together in