“Now, listen to me, Scrivener,” said the other man; “your pals may say exactly what they please of me. I have agreed to take the lead of you all, and I do not complain of the life; it has plenty of excitement and there are heaps of plums. I do not attempt also to deny that the richest plums have fallen into my mouth, but clearly understand once for all, that I know my own value. I know that I have a head on my shoulders; I know that I have a keen eye for business; I know that I am a desperate man whose courage has never yet failed him. No one knows better than I the game I am playing, and no one more clearly realises what my lot must be in the long run. ‘A short life and a merry one’ is my motto, and before Heaven! I’ll have it; but if you think, even for a moment, that you are going, any of you, to bully me or even pretend to lead me, I’ll cut off to Australia by the very next steamer that sails.” “Yes, and if you do,” said Scrivener, “you’ll be met on board and brought back; you know where. I do not think,” he continued, “that I need add any more.” “I don’t think you need; we both understand the position,” said Rowton. He sat down again and remained perfectly still, with his hands hanging between his great legs, his head slightly bent forward. There were lines of perplexity wrinkling his brow; but presently he looked up with a laugh, which showed the gleam of strong white teeth. “You would suppress me if you could,” he said; “but it would take a stronger than you to do that. My day is only at noon; I wait for the black dog of care, I wait for the demon of misery until the night time. Now then, tell me, Scrivener, why it is you have altered your plans and come here at this hour; Samson and I did not expect you until nightfall.” “I came to tell you,” said Scrivener, “that the goods which you expect will not arrive until to-morrow. We have had word at our head office that it is safer to keep them where they are for another twenty-four hours. I thought it best to call on purpose.” “Did any one see you coming?” “Did any one see me?” said the man, laughing. “Of course—plenty; why, I had a pipe and a glass of spirits at the sign of the ‘Jolly Dogs,’ on my way through the village. I am a commercial traveller this time. How do you like the get-up?” “Admirable, most admirable; I did not know you at first. I really thought you were the character.” “Yes, I was sure these checks would do it,” said Scrivener, looking down with affection at the hideous pattern of his trousers. “I had a good time at the ‘Jolly Dogs,’ and have ordered dinner there on my return. Oh! I’m all right, but I have only told you one half of what brought me here. We have an important commission for you, Silver, and you are to go up to town to see Long John to-night.” “What does he want me for?” asked Rowton. “He wants you to go to Spain with——” The man bent forward and began to whisper. Rowton’s brow grew black. “When does he want me to go?” he asked. “To-morrow.”