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〃That I will； papa。〃
〃Somehow； I don't know why； he is coolish to me。〃
〃He does not understand you as I do； my own papa。〃
〃But he is affectionate with you； I think。〃
〃Oh yes； more than ever： trouble has drawn us closer。 Papa； in the midst of our sorrow； how much we have to be thankful for to the Giver of all good things！〃
〃Yes； little angel： and you must improve Heaven's goodness by working on your brother's affection； and persuading him to this continental tour。〃
Thus appealed to； Jane promised warmly： and the man of the world； finding he had a blind and willing instrument in the one creature he loved； kissed her on the forehead； and told her to run away； for here was Mr。 Skinner； who no doubt wanted to speak on business。
Skinner； who had in fact been holding respectfully aloof for some time； came forward on Jane's retiring； and in a very obsequious tone requested a private interview。 Mr。 Hardie led the way into the little dining…room。
They were no sooner alone than Skinner left off fawning； very abruptly； and put on a rugged resolute manner that was new to him： 〃I am come for my commission；〃 said he sturdily。
Mr。 Hardie looked an inquiry。
〃Oh； you don't know what I mean； of course；〃 said the little clerk almost brutally： 〃I've waited； and waited； to see if you would have the decency； and the gratitude； and the honesty； to offer me a trifle out of It； but I see I might wait till dooms…day before you would ever think of thinking of anybody but yourself。 So now shell out without more words or I'll blow the gaff〃 The little wretch raised his voice louder and louder at every sentence。
〃Hush！ hush！ Skinner；〃 said Mr。 Hardie anxiously； 〃you are under some delusion。 When did ever I decline to recognise your services？ I always intended to make you a present； a handsome present。〃
〃Then why didn't ye _do_ it without being forced？ Come； sir； you can't draw the wool over Noah Skinner's eyes。 I have had you watched； and you are looking towards the U。 S。； and that is too big a country for me to hunt you in。 I'm not to be trifled with： I'm not to be palavered： give me a thousand pounds of It this moment or I'll blow the whole concern and you along with it。〃
〃A thousand pounds！〃
〃Now look at that！〃 shrieked Skinner。 〃Serves me right for not saying seven thousand。 What right have you to a shilling of it more than I have？ If I had the luck to be a burglar's pal instead of a banker's； I should have half。 Give it me this moment； or I'll go to Albion Villa and have you took up for a thief； as you are。〃
〃But I haven't got it on me。〃
〃That's a lie： you carry it where _he_ did； close to your heart： I can see it bulge： there； Job was a patient man； but his patience went at last。〃 With this he ran to the window and threw it open。
Hardie entreated him to be calm。 〃I'll give it you； Skinner；〃 said he； 〃and with pleasure； if you will give me some security that you will not turn round； as soon as you have got it； and be my enemy。〃
〃Enemy of a gent that pays me a thousand pounds？ Nonsense！ Why should I？ We are in the same boat： behave like a man； and you know you have nothing to fear from me： but I willnotgo halves in a theft for nothing： would _you？_ Come； how is it to be； peace or war？ Will you be content with thirteen thousand pounds that don't belong to you； not a shilling of it； or will you go to jail a felon； and lose it every penny？〃
Mr。 Hardie groaned aloud； but there was no help for it。 Skinner was on sale： and _must_ be bought。
He took out two notes for five hundred pounds each； and laid them on the table； after taking their numbers。
Skinner's eyes glistened： 〃Thank you； sir；〃 said he。 He put them in his pocket。 Then he said quietly； 〃Now you have taken the numbers； sir； so I'll trouble you for a line to make me safe against the criminal law。 You are a deep one； you might say I robbed you。〃
〃That is a very unworthy suspicion； Skinner； and a childish one。〃
〃Oh； it is diamond cut diamond。 A single line； sir； just to say that in return for his faithful services； you have given Noah Skinner two notes for L。 500； Nos。 1084 and 85。〃
〃With all my hearton your giving me a receipt for them。〃
It was Skinner's turn to hesitate。 After reflecting； however； on all the possible consequences； he saw nothing to fear； so he consented。
The business completed； a magic change took place in the little clerk。 〃Now we are friends again； sir： and I'll give you a piece of advice。 Mind your eye with Mr。 Alfred： he is down on us。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 inquired Mr。 Hardie with ill…disguised anxiety。
〃I'll tell you； sir。 He met me this morning： and says he to me； 'Skinner； old boy； I want to speak a word to you。' He puts his hands on my shoulder； and turns me round； and says he all at one time； 'The fourteen thousand pounds！' You might have knocked me down with a feather。 And he looked me through like a gimlet mind ye。 'Come now；' says he； 'you see I know all； make a clean breast of it。' So then I saw he didn't know _all；_ and I brazened up a bit： told him I hadn't a notion what he meant。 'Oh yes； I did；' he said； 'Captain Dodd's fourteen thousand pounds！ It had passed through my hands。' Then I began to funk again at his knowing that： perhaps he only guessed it after all： but at the time I thought he knew it； I was flustered； ye see。 But I said； 'I'd look at the books； but I didn't think his deposit was anything like that。' 'You little equivocating humbug；' says he： 'and which was better； to tell the truths at once and let Captain Dodd； who never did me any harm； have his own； or to hear it told me in the felon's dock？' Those were his words； sir： and they made my blood run cold； and if he had gone on at me like that； I should have split； I know I should： but he just said； 'There； your face has given your tongue the lie： you haven't brains enough to play the rogue。' Oh； and another thinghe said he wouldn't talk to the sparrow…hawk any more； when there was the kite hard by： so by that I guess your turn is coming； sir； so mind your eye。 And then he turned his back on me with a look as if I was so much dirt。 But I didn't mind that； I was glad to be shut of him at any price。〃
This intelligence discomposed Mr。 Hardie terribly； it did away with all hope that Alfred meant to keep his suspicions to himself。 〃Why did you not tell me this before？〃 said he reproachfully。
Skinner's sharp visage seemed to sharpen as he replied； 〃Because I wanted a thousand pounds first。〃
〃Curse your low cunning！〃
Skinner laughed。 〃Good…bye； sir： take care of yourself and I'll take care of mine。 I'm afraid of Mr。 Alfred and the stone jug； so I'm off to London； and there I'll un…Skinner myself into Mr。 Something or other； and make my thousand pounds breed ten。〃 And he whipped out； leaving his master filled with rage and dismay。
〃Outwitted even by this little wretch！〃
He was now accountable for fourteen thousand pounds； and had only thirteen thousand left； if forced to reimburse； so that it was quite on the cards for him to lose a thousand pounds by robbing his neighbour and risking his own immortal jewel。 This galled him to the quick； and altogether his equable temper began to give way； it had already survived half the iron of his nerves。 He walked up and down the parlour chafing like an irritated lion。 In which state of his mind the one enemy he now feared and hated walked quietly into the room； and begged for a little serious conversation with him。
〃It is like your effrontery；〃 said Mr。 Hardie： 〃I wonder you are not ashamed to look your father in the face。〃
〃Having wronged nobody I can look anybody in the face；〃 replied Alfred； looking him in the face point…blank。
At this swift rejoinder； Mr。 Hardie felt like a too confident swordsman； who； attacking in a passion suddenly receives a prick that shows him his antagonist is not one to be trifled with。 He was on his guard directly； and said coldly； 〃You have been belying me to my very clerk。〃
〃No； sir： you are mistaken； I have never mentioned your name to your clerk。〃
Mr。 Hardie reflected on what Skinner had told him； and found he had made another false move。 He tried again： 〃Nor to the Dodds？〃 with an incredulous sneer。
〃Nor to the Dodds；〃 replied Alfred calmly。
〃What； not to Miss Julia Dodd？〃
〃No； sir； I have seen her but once； sinceI discovered about the fourteen thousand pounds。〃
〃What fourteen thousand pounds？〃 inquired Mr。 Hardie innocently。
〃What fourteen thousand pounds！〃 repeated the young man disdainfully。 Then suddenly turning on his father； with red brow and flashing eyes： 〃The fourteen thousand pounds Captain Dodd brought home from India： the fourteen thousand pounds I heard him claim of you with curses： ay； miserable son； and miserable man； that I am； I heard my own father called a villain； and what did my father reply？ Did you hurl the words back into your accuser's throat？ No： you whispered； 'Hush！ hush！ I'll bring it you down。' Oh； what a hell Shame is！〃
Mr。 Hardie turned pale； and almost sick： with these words of Alfred's fled all hope of ever deceiving him。
〃There； there；〃 said the young man； lowering his voice from rage to profound sorrow： 〃I don't come here to quarrel with my father； nor to insult him； God knows： a