“So you did,” said he at last, in a low voice; “but what of that?” “Why, only this: you had to let me do what I chose. And I intend to keep a good hold of you yet, my fine fellow.” Wiggins placed both his elbows on the table in front of him, and looked fixedly at Leon for some time. “You did say once,” said he, slowly, “that you knew me, and the possibility that it might be true induced me to tolerate you here for some time. I trusted to Miss Dalton's innate good sense to save her from any danger from one like you; but it appears that I was mistaken. At the present moment, however, I may as well inform you that you have not the slightest idea who I am, and more than this, that I have not the slightest objection to tell you.” “Pooh!” said Leon, with ill-disguised uneasiness, “it's all very well for you to take that tone, but it won't do with me. I know who you are.” “Who am I?” “Oh, I know.” “Who? who? Say it! If you did know, you would not imagine that you had any power over me. Your power is a dream, and your knowledge of me is a sham. Who am I?” “Why,” said Leon, with still greater uneasiness and uncertainty in his face and voice, “you are not John Wiggins.” “Who do you think I am?” asked Wiggins. “Who? who? Why, you came from Australia.” “Well, what of that?” “Well, you are some convict who got acquainted with Dalton out there, and have come back here to try to get control of these estates.” “But how could I do that? If this were so, do you suppose that Wiggins of Liverpool would allow it?” “Oh, he has a share in the business. He goes halves with you, perhaps.” “If he wanted any shares at all in such a transaction, he might have all, and therefore he would be a fool to take half. Your theory, I infer, is somewhat lame. And what of Mrs. Dunbar? Is she an Australian convict too?” “Mrs. Dunbar?--who is she? What! that crazy housekeeper? She looks as though she may have just been released from some lunatic asylum.” Wiggins made no immediate reply, and sat for a few moments in thought. Then he looked at Leon and said: “Well, you have got hold of a part of the truth--just enough to mislead you. It is true that I have been in Australia, though why you should suppose that I was a convict I do not know. More: I went out there on account of Dalton, and for no other reason. While there I saw much of him, and gained his whole confidence. He told me his whole story unreservedly. He believed me to be his friend. He confided every thing to me. You must have heard of his trial, and his strange persistence in refusing to say who the guilty party was.” “Oh yes,” said Leon, with a laugh. “A good idea that, when the guilty party was himself.” “It was not himself,” said Wiggins, “and before long the world shall know who it was, for that is the one business of my life since my return, to which I have sacrificed all other concerns. In my attention to this I have even neglected Miss Dalton.”