For a moment the captain was tempted to run like a thief from a
policeman; but his very desperation came to his rescue.

"What do you want here, Ratman?"

"Hullo, it's Oliphant! Here's a piece of luck. You're the very man I
wanted to see. I've changed my mind since I said good-bye yesterday, my
boy, and mean to remain here on the spot and see the end of this
business. I was on my way to see you. Come along."

"You'd better say what you want to say here. You won't find any
admirers of yours up at the house."

"Ah! then you've heard of last night's business? What on earth brings
this Yankee idiot here at this time to spoil everything? Now, Teddy,
the long and short of this business is, that you must stir yourself.
You've shuffled long enough. First of all you were going to marry the
widow; you boggled that. Then you were going to succeed to the
property; you've boggled that. Then you were to clear the tutor out of
the way; you've boggled that. Then you were to raise the wind and pay
me off, and you've boggled that. I've given you long enough rope,
goodness knows. I mean to haul in now."

Captain Oliphant rose from his seat with a dismal laugh. "I'm tired of
hearing you say that, Ratman. I wish you'd do it and be done with it."

Ratman peered through the gloom at the speaker in surprise. "Hullo!"
said he, "that's a new tune for you. Now look here; I suppose you've
not forgotten our talk yesterday?"

"Well?"

"You've two things to do; you've to recognise me as Roger Ingleton when
the time comes. There'll be proofs and witnesses. They must satisfy
you, mind. Make no mistake of that. Then I must have Rosalind. I love
her. On the day I'm your son-in-law you shall have back every bill I
hold against you. Now, is it a bargain? It's a cheap one for you, I
can tell you."

The blood rose to Captain Oliphant's brow. A few hours ago he would
have faltered and evaded, half whined, half promised; now sheer
desperation made him reckless.

He laughed bitterly.

"Recognise you--you shark! Never! And if you ever dare to speak of my
daughter, I'll shake you like a cur. There now, do as you like; you've
got my answer."

Ratman dropped his jaw in utter amazement. For a minute the words would
not come. Then, with a face so livid that Oliphant could see its
whiteness through the night, he hissed--

"You mean it? You defy me?--me, with these papers in my hand, and the
whole story of your villainy