But he had picked up at the assizes a smattering of the law of evidence; so he coolly tore the letter in pieces. “There now,” said he to himself, “if Hardies do laa me for publishing of this here letter, why they pours their water into a sieve. Ugh!” And with this exclamation he started, and then put his heavy boot on part of the letter, and ground it furtively into the mud; for a light hand had settled on his shoulder, and a keen young face was close to his. It was Alfred Hardie, who had stolen on him like a cat. “I'm laad,” thought Maxley. “Maxley, old fellow,” said Alfred, in a voice as coaxing as a woman's, “are you in a good humour?” “Well, Master, Halfred, sight of you mostly puts me in one, especially after that there strychnine job.” “Then tell me,” whispered Alfred, his eyes sparkling and his face beaming, “who was that you were talking to just now? Was it?--wasn't it?--who was it?” CHAPTER XVIII WHILE Dodd stood lowering in the doorway, he was nevertheless making a great effort to control his agitation. At last he said in a stern but low voice, in which, however, a quick ear might detect a tremor of agitation: “I have changed my mind, sir: I want my money back.” At this, though David's face had prepared him, Mr. Hardie's heart sank: but there was no help for it. He said faintly, “Certainly. May I ask----?” and there he stopped; for it was hardly prudent to ask anything. “No matter,” replied Dodd, his agitation rising even at this slight delay. “Come! my money! I must and will have it.” Hardie drew himself up majestically. “Captain Dodd, this is a strange way of demanding what nobody here disputes.” “Well, I beg your pardon,” said Dodd, a little awed by his dignity and fairness, “but I can't help it.” The quick, supple banker saw the slight advantage he had gained, and his mind went into a whirl. What should he do? It was death to part with this money and gain nothing by it. Sooner tell Dodd of the love affair, and open a treaty on this basis: he clung to this money like limpet to its rock; and so intense and rapid were his thoughts and schemes how to retain it a little longer, that David's apologies buzzed in his ear like the drone of a beetle. The latter went on to say, “You see, sir, it's my children's fortune, my boy Edward's, and my little Julia's: and so many have been trying to get it from me, that my blood boils up in a moment about it now.--My poor head!--You don't seem to understand what I am saying! There then, I am a sailor; I can't go beating and tacking like you landsmen, with the wind dead astern. The long and the short is, I don't feel It safe here: don't feel It safe anywhere, except in my wife's lap. So no more words: here's your receipt; give me my money.” “Certainly, Captain Dodd. Call to-morrow morning at the bank, and it will be paid on demand in the regular way: the bank opens at ten o'clock.”