Courthorne dryly, "it is not a great ideal. Only the
means to live in a manner more befitting a gentleman than I have been
able to do lately."

"You have not been prospering?" and Winston favored his companion with
a slow scrutiny.

"No," and Courthorne laughed again. "You see, I could pick up a
tolerable living as Lance Courthorne, but there is very little to be
made at my business when you commence in new fields as an unknown man."

"Well," said Winston coldly, "I don't know that it wouldn't be better
to face my trial than stay here at your mercy. So far as my
inclinations go, I would sooner fight than have any further dealings
with a man like you."

Courthorne shook his head. "I fixed up the thing too well, and you
would be convicted. Still, we'll not go into that, and you will not
find me unreasonable. A life at Silverdale would not suit me, and you
know by this time that it would be difficult to sell the place, while I
don't know where I could find a tenant who would farm it better than
you. That being so, it wouldn't be good policy to bleed you too
severely. Still, I want a thousand dollars in the meanwhile. It's
mine, you see."

Winston sat still a minute. He was sensible of a fierce distrust and
hatred of the man before him, but he felt he must at least see the
consummation of his sowing.

"Then you shall have it on condition that you go away, and stay away,
until harvest is over. After that, I will send for you and shall have
more to tell you. If in the meantime you come back here, or hint that
I am Winston, I will surrender to the police, or decide our differences
in another fashion."

Courthorne nodded. "That is direct," he said. "One knows where he is
when he deals with a man who talks as you do. Now, are you not curious
as to the way I cheated both the river and the police?"

"No," said Winston grimly, "not in the least. We will talk business
together when it is necessary, but I can only decline to discuss
anything else with you."

Courthorne laughed. "There's nothing to be gained by pretending to
misunderstand you, but it wouldn't pay me to be resentful when I'm
graciously willing to let you work for me. Still, I have been inclined
to wonder how you were getting on with my estimable relatives and
connections. One of them has, I hear, unbent a trifle towards you, but
I would like to warn you not to presume on any small courtesy shown you
by the younger Miss Barrington."

Wi