There was a lack of deference in the speaker's tone which the young gentleman resented, and had resented in silence more than once in the days which were past; but the time for silence was gone. He had been making up his mind on that point on his way to the City. Recognising, from the bearing of the two men in front of him, that a new and, as yet, unknown factor bade fair to figure on the scene, with characteristic readiness he arrived at an instant resolution. Ignoring Andrews, he addressed himself to the man in the chair. "May I ask, sir, who you are?" The stranger's penetrating eyes were set deep in his head; he fixed them on the young gentleman's face with a steady stare of evident surprise. Rodney returned him stare for stare. "You may ask, young gentleman, and, though I seriously doubt if you are entitled to ask, I don't mind telling you. My name is Wilkes--Stephen Wilkes; I am your late uncle's legal adviser, and am here to safeguard the interests he has left behind." "Then, Mr. Wilkes, be so good as to get out of that chair." Mr. Andrews looked at the speaker in shocked amazement. "Mr. Elmore! You forget yourself! How dare you speak like that to a gentleman in Mr. Wilkes's position." For answer, Rodney turned to the managing man, addressing him as curtly and peremptorily as if he had been some menial servant. "Andrews, leave the room!" The other's eyes opened still wider; probably he had never been so spoken to before, even by his late master in his most irascible moods. He drew up his spare and rather bowed figure with what he perhaps meant to be a touch of dignity. "Mr. Elmore, the consequences will be very serious if you talk to me like that." "The consequences will be very serious if you don't obey my orders." "Your orders?" "My orders. Are you going to leave the room, or am I to put you out?" "Steady, young gentleman, steady. I have been your uncle's legal adviser for perhaps more years than you have been in the world, and am, therefore, intimately acquainted with his wishes. I am here to see those wishes carried out. I understand that you occupied a very humble position in this office, and, though accident made you his relative, you were not in possession of your uncle's confidence. Your position is in no way altered by his death, and you have no right to issue what you call orders here--emphatically not to Mr. Andrews. If there is any question as to who is to leave the room, it is certainly not Mr. Andrews who must go, but you." "Mr. Wilkes, I do not propose to bandy words, and when I have once pointed out that you entirely misapprehend the situation on that subject I have done. All that Mr. Patterson had is now his daughter's, including this business and all that it implies. I am here as Miss Patterson's representative." "Indeed! By whom appointed?" "By Miss Patterson. I may inform you that Miss Patterson will shortly be my wife." "Is that so? This is news. Since when has that arrangement been made?"