"Barthorpe!" said Peggie, looking earnestly at him. "You know that all these gentlemen were Uncle Jacob's friends--dear friends--and they are mine. Don't go away--Mr. Halfpenny wants to speak to you." Barthorpe had already half turned to the door. He turned back--then turned again. "Mr. Halfpenny can only want to speak to me on business," he said, coldly. "If Mr. Halfpenny wants to speak to me on business, he knows where to find me." He had already laid a hand on the door when Mr. Halfpenny spoke sharply and sternly. "Mr. Barthorpe Herapath!" he said. "I know very well where to find you, and I have tried to find you and to get speech with you for two days--in vain. I insist, sir, that you speak to us--or at any rate to your cousin--you are bound to speak, sir, out of common decency!" "About what?" asked Barthorpe. "I came to speak to my cousin--in private." "There is a certain something, sir," retorted Mr. Halfpenny, with warmth, "about which we must speak in public--such a public, at any rate, as is represented here and now. You know what it is--your uncle's will!" "What about my uncle's will--or alleged will?" asked Barthorpe with a sneer. Mr. Halfpenny appeared to be about to make a very angry retort, but he suddenly checked himself and looked at Peggie. "You hear, my dear?" he said. "He says--alleged will!" Peggie turned to Barthorpe with an appealing glance. "Barthorpe!" she exclaimed. "Is that fair--is it generous? Is it just--to our uncle's memory? You know that is his will--what doubt can there be about it?" Barthorpe made no answer. He still stood with one hand on the door, looking at Mr. Halfpenny. And suddenly he spoke. "What do you wish to ask me?" he said. "I wish to ask you a plain question," replied Mr. Halfpenny. "Do you accept this will, and are you going to act on your cousin's behalf? I want your plain answer." Barthorpe hesitated a moment before replying. Then he made as if to open the door. "I decline to discuss the matter of the alleged will," he answered. "I decline--especially," he continued, lifting a finger and pointing at Mr. Tertius, "especially in the presence of that man!" "Barthorpe!" exclaimed Peggie, flushing at the malevolence of the tone and gesture. "How dare you! In my house----" Barthorpe suddenly laughed. Once again he turned to the door--and this time he opened it. "Just so--just so!" he said. "Your house, my dear cousin--according to the alleged will." "Which will be proved, sir," snapped out Mr. Halfpenny. "As you refuse, or seem to do so, I shall act for your cousin--at once." Barthorpe opened the door wide, and as he crossed the threshold, turned and gave Mr. Halfpenny a swift glance. "Act!" he said. "Act!--if you can!" Then he walked out and shut the door behind him, and Mr. Halfpenny turned to the others.