now--What is it you're threatening?'

"'Nothing that you could take hold of, to swear information
against me,' I answered, 'even if you were in England now--now
that April's here. Or is it May? I shall probably end by
killing you; but I have tested my forbearance, and now know that
it will happen at my own time, place, and convenient
opportunity. That's a threat, eh? Well, there's no hurry about
it, and you couldn't do anything with it, even at home in merry
England. You couldn't put up a case that you go in bodily fear
of me--as you're beginning to do--when I can call Caffyn
('Clever fellow, Caffyn!') to witness that only last night you
desired no end to our acquaintance. Besides, my acquaintance is
all I propose to inflict on you, just yet.'

"He jumped up, and faced me. He was thoroughly scared, and no
less thoroughly puzzled. To do him justice, he had pluck
enough, too, to be pretty angry.

"'I don't know what you mean!' he broke out. 'I don't know what
you're driving at, mad or not. . . . The moment we crossed one
another I hated you--Yes, damn you, first impressions are truest
after all! Later, I was weak enough, thinking I'd injured you,
to--to--' He broke down feebly. 'What sort of devil are you?'
he demanded, mopping his forehead. 'You can't hurt me, I say.
What is it you threaten?'

"'Only this,' said I. 'You have been a married man for a number
of years, and therefore can probably appreciate better than I
what it means. But you know my feeling for you, as I know yours
towards me. . . . Well, I propose to be your companion in this
world and until death do us part. . . . You may dodge, but I
shall be faithful; you may slip, run, elude, but I shall quest.
But your shadow I am going to be, Mr. Farrell; and ever, when
you have hit a place in the sun, it shall be to start and find
me--a faithful hound at your side. I have put the fear on you,
I see. Waking or sleeping you shall never put that fear off.
. . . And now,' said I, rising and tapping another cigarette on
my case, 'let me steer you back to the railway-station.
You will prefer to dine alone to-night and think out your plans.
I shall be thinking out mine at the _Ambassadeurs_.'"

"So that's how it happened, Roddy. You might post me 100 pounds
to the