'I think that now I do remember you. You used to write letters for her and that kind of thing.' 'All sorts of kinds of things. I do everything she tells me to; I am a Jack-of-all-trades. I would act for her one day; I can act, but I am too large a size. But that does not matter; nor does it matter what your cousin has done to me, though you can guess. But you cannot guess how he has lied and juggled.' 'I think I can.' 'Then you must know him very well. In which case you have my sympathy. What does matter is what you are going to do to him.' 'I am going to do nothing to him.' 'We will see; you will see; they all will see. Be still! Let me speak. He has told me about your uncle's will--about the ruby which Miss Bewicke has. How, if you get it from her, you are to have all the money; how, if you don't, he is to have it all. I know! Very well; you will get the ruby. That's what you will do to him. He will be ruined, body and soul; though, for his soul, that was lost long ago. If he wishes to keep his body out of prison he will have to be quick out of England. He will not find it easy. There are those who are watching for him too well.' 'Are you sure of what you say?' 'Am I sure! Do I not know? It is only because they think he will get his uncle's money that he has not been in prison before. I tell you there is a convict's uniform waiting for him in more than one place. You will fit it on his back. I shall be revenged. I will go and see him when he is in gaol. Every three months he will be allowed to receive a visit. I will be his visitor. To see me will give him pleasure. I shall have such nice things to say. Oh, yes!' Mr Holland shivered. There was that about this woman which filled him with a sense of vague discomfort. 'I don't like your way of putting things at all!' 'What does it matter what you like? To get the ruby--that is your affair.' 'How do you suggest that I am, as you phrase it, "to get the ruby"?' 'You will have to take it.' 'Take it?' 'She will never give it to you--never. She hates you. She also has been looking for revenge. Now she has her chance. You behaved badly to her. Now she will behave badly to you.' 'I deny that I behaved badly to her. If you were acquainted with all the facts you would not judge me with such hard judgment.' 'She thinks that you behaved badly to her, and, for a woman, that is enough.' 'Then am I to take it that you only think that Horace Burton has behaved badly to you?' The woman favoured him with a look which made him realise more clearly than anything which had gone before what a Tartar his cousin had encountered. She was silent for a moment or two. When she did speak, she spoke quietly; but it was a quietude in which there was a quality which was not peace.