"I don't know so much about 'have got to pay for it' at all. That grin of yours doesn't improve your looks, Raffles," said Jack, who was rather nettled by Raffles' sneer. "Well, my bantam cock," said Raffles, savagely, "I only 'opes as this 'ere bill won't spoil yours. And let me tell you, young shaver, I want the money." Jack calmly took the piece of note-paper which Raffles hurriedly fished out of his pocket, and flourished dramatically before Bourne. There was a touching simplicity about Raffles' bill-making that would in ordinary times have made Jack split with laughter, but, naturally, at the present time he did not feel in a very jovial frame of mind. Hence he read through the farrago with only one very strong desire--to kick Raffles neck and crop out of the stable. This was the bill:-- Mr. burn owes me daniel raffles this money. To bunneys at sixpence each... 2 0 To 50 cartrigges...... 6 6 To pidgins......... 1 6 1 gunn breech loder...... £7 0 0 _______ totel £7 10 0 "Now, Raffles," said Jack, in a white heat, "what do you mean by this rotten foolery?" "There's no foolery about it," said Raffles, sulkily. "That's my bill." "Why, you unspeakable rascal, did you fancy I'd pay it?" "I did, and I do." Something in the fellow's tone made Jack a trifle uneasy, and he considered within himself for a moment what he had better do. That the rascal had made up his mind to be nasty was evident, and when Jack thought that the gun, poor as it was, was destroyed, though through no fault of his own, he thought perhaps he might give his old jackal something as a solatium. "All right, Raffles! I'll pay you for what I owe you now, and I'll give you a sovereign for the gun. I'll send you that in a day or two. I've no more money with me now." "That ain't the bill. I want this 'ere bill paid." "'This 'ere bill' is sheer rot!" retorted Jack. "Rot or not, it's what I want from you. You pay up that seven odd, or it will be the worse for you. What is seven odd to a young gent like you? Aren't you all millionaires at St. Amory's?" "Not by a long chalk." "Well, I don't want to be unpleasant, my buck, but if you won't pay over I'll show you up." "Show me up, you beast--what do you mean?" "I'll write to Corker and blow the gaff." "If you did that," said Bourne, grimly, "I'd kill you first day I could do it." [Illustration: "I'M GOING TO HAVE THE SEVEN TEN, OR SHOW YOU UP."] "Or I'd write to your brother." "And he'd do it now, you skunk!" "No names, young gent. That won't pay my bill. You don't seem to imagine I mean what I say." "No, I don't, for you wouldn't be any _nearer_ getting the money." "But then you say you aren't going to pay anyhow, so I may as well touch you up a bit. You've most every time told me not to be so beastly friendly, and I ain't going to be. I'm going to have the seven ten or show you up. That's straight."