“And now he is so disobliging,” drawled Kara. “That is a way which moneylenders have, my dear man; you were very foolish to go to him at all. I could have lent you the money.” “There were reasons why I should not borrow money from you,”, said John, quietly, “and I think you yourself have supplied the principal reason when you told me just now, what I already knew, that you wanted to marry Grace.” “How much is the amount?” asked Kara, examining his well-manicured finger-nails. “Two thousand five hundred pounds,” replied John, with a short laugh, “and I haven't two thousand five hundred shillings at this moment.” “Will he wait?” John Lexman shrugged his shoulders. “Look here, Kara,” he said, suddenly, “don't think I want to reproach you, but it was through you that I met Vassalaro so that you know the kind of man he is.” Kara nodded. “Well, I can tell you he has been very unpleasant indeed,” said John, with a frown, “I had an interview with him yesterday in London and it is clear that he is going to make a lot of trouble. I depended upon the success of my play in town giving me enough to pay him off, and I very foolishly made a lot of promises of repayment which I have been unable to keep.” “I see,” said Kara, and then, “does Mrs. Lexman know about this matter?” “A little,” said the other. He paced restlessly up and down the room, his hands behind him and his chin upon his chest. “Naturally I have not told her the worst, or how beastly unpleasant the man has been.” He stopped and turned. “Do you know he threatened to kill me?” he asked. Kara smiled. “I can tell you it was no laughing matter,” said the other, angrily, “I nearly took the little whippersnapper by the scruff of the neck and kicked him.” Kara dropped his hand on the other's arm. “I am not laughing at you,” he said; “I am laughing at the thought of Vassalaro threatening to kill anybody. He is the biggest coward in the world. What on earth induced him to take this drastic step?” “He said he is being hard pushed for money,” said the other, moodily, “and it is possibly true. He was beside himself with anger and anxiety, otherwise I might have given the little blackguard the thrashing he deserved.” Kara who had continued his stroll came down the room and halted in front of the fireplace looking at the young author with a paternal smile. “You don't understand Vassalaro,” he said; “I repeat he is the greatest coward in the world. You will probably discover he is full of firearms and threats of slaughter, but you have only to click a revolver to see him collapse. Have you a revolver, by the way?” “Oh, nonsense,” said the other, roughly, “I cannot engage myself in that kind of melodrama.”