O'Reardon never moved, nor made any sign to show that he noticed the money at his feet; but, crossing his arms on his chest, he drew himself haughtily up, and said: “So, then, it's defying me you 'd try now? You 'd have me up for perjury! Well, then, I begin to believe you _are_ a fool, after all. No, sir, you need n't put your hand in your waistcoat. If you have a pistol there, I have another; and, what's more, I have a witness in that clump of trees, that only needs the word to stand beside me. There, now, Colonel, you see you 're beat, and beat at your own game too.” “D--n you!” cried Sewell, savagely. “Can't you see that I 've got no money?” “If I have n't money, I 'll have money's worth. Short of twenty pounds I 'll not leave this.” “I tell you again, you might as well ask me for two hundred or two thousand. I 'll be in cash, I hope, by the end of the week--” “Ay, but I'll be in France,” broke in O'Reardon. “I wish you were in------,” mumbled Sewell, as he believed, to himself; but the other heard him, and dryly said, “No, sir, not yet; it's manners to let _you_ go first.” “I lost heavily two nights ago at the Club,--that's why I 'm so hard up; but I know I must have money by Saturday. By Saturday's post I 'll send you an order for twenty pounds. Will that content you?” “No, sir, it will not. I had a bad bout of it last night myself, and lost every ha'penny Mr. Harman gave me for the journey,--that's the reason I 'm here.” “But if I have not got it? There, so help me! is every farthing I can call my own this minute,”--and he drew from his pocket some silver, in which a single gold coin or two mingled,--“take it, if you like.” “No, sir; it's no good to me. Short of twenty pounds, I could n't start on the journey.” “And if I haven't got it! Am I to go out and rob for you?” cried Sewell, as his eyes flashed indignantly at him. “I don't want you to rob; but it isn't a house like this hasn't twenty pounds in it.” “You mean,” said Sewell, with a sneering laugh, “that if there 's not cash, there must be plate, jewels, and such-like, and so I 'm to lay an embargo on the spoons; but you forget there is a butler who looks after these things.” “There might be many a loose thing on your Lady's table that would do as well,--a ring or two, or a bracelet that she's tired of.” Sewell started,--a sudden thought flashed across him; if he were to kill the fellow as he stood there, how should he conceal the murder and hide the corpse? It was quick as a lightning flash, this thought, but the horror of the consequences so overcame him that a cold sweat broke out over his body, and he staggered back to a seat, and sank into it exhausted and almost fainting. “Don't take it to heart that way, sir,” said the fellow, gazing at him. “Will I get you a glass of water?”