time, however, it wasn't a success
consulting me."

"I want you to read this."

The tutor took the letter and turned to the signature.

His brow knitted as he did so, and the lines grew deeper and more
scornful as he turned to the beginning and read through.

"If I were you," said he, returning it, "I would frame this letter as a
good specimen of a barefaced fraud."

It irritated Roger considerably, in his present over-wrought frame of
mind--and particularly after the memorable inward struggle of that
morning--to have what seemed so serious a matter to him regarded by any
one else as a jest. For once in a way the tutor failed to understand
his ward.

"It does not seem to be a fraud at all," said Roger. "Why didn't you
tell me of it before?"

"I did not regard the statement seriously. Nor do I now. There is lie
written in every line of the letter. A clumsy attempt to extort money,
which ought not to be allowed to succeed. He gives not a single proof
of his identity. I horsewhipped him on the night of your birthday for
insulting a lady, and--"

"What lady?" asked Roger.

"Miss Oliphant," said the tutor, flushing a little. "He then, as a
desperate expedient for getting off the punishment he deserved, blurted
out this preposterous story. And having once published it, it appears
he means to make capital out of it. Roger, old fellow, you are no
fool."

"I am fool enough to believe there is something in the story," said
Roger; "at any rate I must follow it up. If this Ratman is my
brother--"

The tutor, who himself was showing signs of irritation, laughed
abruptly.

"It may be a joke to you, but it is none to me," said Roger angrily.
"It may not concern you--"

"It concerns me very much," said the tutor. "I am your guardian, and it
is my duty to protect you from schemers."

The two stood looking at one another, and in that moment each relented a
little of his anger.

"I know, old fellow," said Roger, "you think you are doing me a
kindness, but--"

"Pardon me--kindness is not the word. I appeal to your common-sense--"

Unlucky speech! Roger, who was painfully aware that he was not clever,
was naturally touchy at any reference to his common-sense.

"It doesn't seem much use discussing," said he. "I made a mistake in
showing you the letter."

"I heartily regret you did."

"I hoped you would have helped me in my difficulty."

"I will do anything for you except believe, without proof, a