"Do you mean to say you did not write to the firm of Quinion, at Broadstone in England, telling them that Fellows was here if they wanted him?" "How could I do that, when I don’t know anything about him?" "Don’t question me, but look straight in my face and say, if you can, ’I did not write it.’" "I don’t know what right you have to talk to me in this manner, Mr. Ranger." "You are only trying to evade my question, that you know well." "I can only say, I don’t know what you are talking about." "Then it would be very easy for you to say, ’I never wrote such a letter,’ if you did not." "I don’t recognise your right to ask me such a question, and therefore I don’t choose to answer." Ranger felt he was getting roused by the man’s prevaricating manner and his attempt at bounce,—for it appeared to him to be nothing else,—but by a strong effort he managed to control himself sufficiently to say— "Will you tell me whether you have written a letter to Quinion, Broadstone, any time within the last six weeks?" After waiting a few seconds for the reply which Charles—who sat with his eyes intently gazing into the fire—did not attempt to give, John chimed in with, "Why not say at once, Charles, if you know anything about the matter?" "I have," he exclaimed after a pause; but the tone in which this was uttered was not one calculated to carry conviction with it. "You darn’d skunk!" shouted the farmer in wrathful tones; "so you refuse to reply, do you?" "I refuse to give you any other reply than what you have got." "Then take this from me," said Ranger, in somewhat softer tones, but yet with a display of a considerable amount of excitement, "the first thing, to-morrow morning, you pack, and be off from here as quick as you can, for I will not allow such a miserable sneaking hound to remain here in my employ a day longer than I can help." "You mean it?" said Charles. "Mean it? I should think I do! Don’t you doubt it for one minute," he added, as he brought his fist down with an impressive thump on the table, making the jugs standing on it to quiver. "This is rather sudden, farmer," broke in John. "What’s he going to do when he leaves here?" "I don’t know, and I was going to add, I don’t care, but I won’t say that; still, that is for him to decide." "You have used some strong language to my brother, Mr. Ranger; but what it’s all about I am quite in ignorance of." "That I quite believe, John," added Ranger in quieter tones; "that’s why I’ve not included you in anything I’ve said." "Can I say or do anything to smooth matters? Tell me what it’s all about." "Ask that coward, he knows well enough, and perhaps will tell you when I’m gone." "But would it not be better for you to tell me yourself?" "Don’t you interfere, Jack," exclaimed Charles, "as after what that blackguard——" "Repeat that word, you cur," shouted the farmer angrily, as he advanced upon Charles, "and I’ll shake the life out of you! Repeat it, I say, if you dare!"