for your Hall. Do you think he will refuse--not he!"

"But what on earth's your object! You've ruined me already."

"Your daughter!" Hamar cried. "Miss Gladys! I am prepared to go any
lengths to get her. Refuse to give her to me and I'll turn you out of
your Hall, I'll torment you with every kind of insect, I'll plague you
with disease, I'll make your life hell. But give her to me--and
I'll--"

"But I won't! And I defy you to do your worst, you--you--" and there
is no knowing what would have happened, had not Gladys suddenly come
in and dragged her father out of the room.

"How dare you?" she exclaimed, returning to the study to find Hamar
still there. "I've telephoned to the police, and unless you go
instantly and promise not to come again, I shall give you in charge,
for annoyance."

"Foolish of you--very foolish!" Hamar said, "when I want to be
friendly. Sooner or later you must give in, so why not end all this
needless unpleasantness now, and receive me--if not with open arms--at
least amicably. You are so awfully pretty! I must have just one----"
but before he could kiss Gladys the police arrived, and Hamar once
more retired--with somewhat undignified haste, and more than a little
discomfited.

On arriving in Cockspur Street, Hamar's temper underwent a still
further trial. Kelson, taking advantage of his absence, had gone off
to tea with Lilian Rosenberg.

In ill-suppressed fury, he waited till they returned.

"A word with you, Matt," he said, as Kelson tried to shuffle past him.
"So this is the way you behave when my back is turned. I suppose
you've had a good time!"

"Delightful!"

"And you know the consequences!"

"Only that I'm looking forward to the same thing another day."

"She'll go!"

"She won't," Kelson chuckled. "She is far too valuable. So there, old
man! A month ago your threat might have held good. It won't now. You
daren't--you positively daren't part with her--because, if you did so,
you'd not only part with a good few of your secrets, but you'd part
with me."

CHAPTER XVII

THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE

"What's to be done with Matt?" Hamar asked Curtis, soon after the
interview just recorded. "He's as sweet on Rosensberg as he can be,
and says if I dismiss her he'll go too!"

"Then don't dismiss her," Curtis replied. "Leave them both alone,
that's my tip. I don't believe Matt's such a fool as to fall in love,
and I'm quite sure the girl isn't. Why, she went to the Tivoli