Then he went out, seizing his hat as he passed through the hall and made his way into the street. He did not notice, as he retired, that a woman's figure was only half-concealed behind the curtains that screened a door in the study, and that his interview with Lesley must therefore have had an unseen auditor. He forgot that Ethel and Rosalind waited for him above. He was mad with rage; deaf to all voices saving those of passion: blind to all sights save the visions that floated maddeningly before his eyes. Mad, blind, deaf to reason as he was, he was obliged to come back to earth and its realities before very long. For he was stopped in the streets by rough hands: a hoarse, passionate voice uttered threats and curses in his ear; and he found himself face to face with his long-vanished and half-forgotten brother, Francis Trent. CHAPTER XXIX. BROTHERS. "What do you want with me?" said Oliver trying to shake off the rude grasp. "I want you--you," gasped the man. He was evidently much excited, and his breath came in hard, quick pants. "Have you forgotten your own brother?" The two paused for an instant under a gas lamp. Oliver looked into Francis Trent's drawn, livid face--into the wild, bloodshot eyes, and for an instant recoiled. It struck him that the face was that of a madman. But it was, nevertheless, the face of his brother, and after that momentary pause he recovered himself and laughed slightly. "Forgotten you? I'm not very likely to forget you, my boy. Well, what do you want?" "I want that two thousand pounds." His hand still clutched Oliver's arm, and the grasp was becoming unpleasant. "Can you not take your hand off my arm?" said the younger man, coolly. "I'm not going to run away. Apropos, what have you been doing with yourself all these weeks! I thought you had given us the slip altogether." "I want my money," said Francis, doggedly. Oliver looked at him curiously. What did this persistence mean? What money was he thinking about? "Your money?" he repeated. "Yes, my money--the money you ought to have given me by this time--where is it?" "You mean the sum I promised you on my wedding-day?" Francis nodded, with a rather confused look upon his face. "My wedding-day has not occurred yet," said Oliver, lightly. "Upon my word, I doubt whether it ever will occur. Don't alarm yourself, Francis. I shall get the money for you before long--I've not forgotten it." "I want it now. Two thousand pounds," said Francis, thickly. "Are you drunk, man! Do you think I carry two thousand pounds about with me in my pocket? Go home--I'll see you again when you are sober." "I have touched nothing but water to-day," said his brother. "I swear it--so help me, God! I know what I'm about. And I know _you_. I know you for the vilest cheat and trickster that ever walked the earth. I've been in hospital--I don't know how long. I know that you would cheat me if you could. You were to pay me within six months--and it's over six months now."