"Oh, would I? Well,"--Rupert shrugged his big shoulders,--"you are such a misanthrope that you can believe no good of your fellow-creatures, so have it your own way." "How can I believe any good when everyone is so selfish?" said this amazing man. "Even Dorinda leaves me to bear my troubles alone. I wanted her to comfort me this morning, and she went out shopping." "How could she comfort you when you refuse to explain things to her?" "What things?" demanded Mallien alertly and frowning. "How do you know that I have anything to explain?" "I know more than you think," replied Hendle dryly. "I know that you told her how Carrington was threatening you and--hold on--yet refused to supply details. How then can you expect her to sympathize with you and help you when there is not perfect confidence between you?" Mallien did not answer directly, as he was too surprised by his cousin's mention of the barrister. "Who told you that Carrington threatened me?" "Dorinda told me yesterday, and for that reason I arranged that she should go out this morning and allow me to have an uninterrupted conversation with you. Now don't lose your temper, Mallien. I am here to have an explanation, and I don't leave this place until I get it." "I shall make no explanation," shouted the other savagely; "and Dorinda had no right to tell you about my private affairs." "She told very little, as she knows very little." "I don't care how much she knows, or how much she doesn't know," raged the angry little man, shaking with wrath. "I shan't have you meddle in my affairs." "Will you prefer Lawson to meddle instead of me?" "Lawson won't dare," answered Mallien, but in a more subdued tone. "Oh, yes, he will, when Carrington tells him what he knows." "Carrington knows nothing." "He does. If he didn't he would scarcely have had that interview with you at _The Hendle Arms_ after I kicked him out." "You kicked him out, did you?" "Yes, I did, because he wanted me to bribe him into holding his tongue about the will. Failing getting the money from me, he attempted to get it from you at that interview. Dorinda told me that you had one, since you informed her about Carrington's threats. Come now, Mallien, the time has come for plain speaking if you wish to keep your liberty. Did Carrington ask you for five thousand pounds? That was the sum he asked from me." Mallien was forced to give in, and did so sullenly. "He did ask for that sum." Rupert nodded. "I thought so. And what did you say?" "I didn't say anything. I have taken a week to think matters over." "I see," Rupert pondered; "and at the end of the week, if you don't agree to give Carrington five thousand pounds when you get the property, he will tell Lawson that you murdered Leigh." "He says he will, but how can he prove it?" sneered the other uneasily. "Well, you see, you lost that opal in the matrix which I found on the verge of the hole where the will had been buried." "What does that prove?"