He did remember, only too well for his mental comfort, and even as he spoke the dreary _salle à manger_ in the little French town arose before him, and he faced again the powerful figure with the stern eyes and the firm square jaw. ‘It was a few years ago, in France. You had then in your company a young lady whom you called your wife, and to whom, suspecting the nature of your connection with her, I offered my assistance. I afterwards saw you again, when this lady was still in your power, and you were using her as the decoy of a gambling hell.’ Gavrolles was now livid. He saw that his visitor meant mischief, and with an execration he sprang up as if to move to the door. But Sutherland blocked the way with an ominous scowl. ‘Keep your seat! I have not yet done with you!’ ‘Monsieur, this outrage----’ ‘Bah! do not trouble yourself to seem indignant. You shall hear me out.5 ‘I shall do nothing of the kind!’ ‘If you attempt to leave this room,’ said Sutherland calmly, ‘I shall thrash you within an inch of your life!’ As he spoke he held in the air a riding-whip, which he appeared to have provided for the purpose. ‘Robber! assassin!’ cried Gavrolles, and he put the table between himself and his visitor. ‘I am neither,’ said Sutherland. ‘I am simply the friend of a lady whom it seems your determination to persecute and destroy. Nor is she the only one of your victims with whom I am acquainted. Have you forgotten Adèle Lambert?’ ‘I know no such person.’ ‘You are a liar!’ returned Sutherland dryly. ‘You know her--you betrayed her--only a few nights ago she struck you in the face.’ ‘Leave my apartment--scoundrel!’ ‘It is you who are the scoundrel. I have come to call you to an account.’ Gavrolles threw his arms in the air in savage desperation. ‘I don’t know you or your degraded companions. If we were not living in a country where the code of honour is unknown, you should answer with your life for this outrage. But there! You are a coward, and trade upon the immunity given by your absurd laws. You know that we cannot in England meet as gentlemen--that is why you venture so far.’ ‘You are mistaken,’ returned Sutherland, still with the same _sang-froid_. ‘It would give me the greatest pleasure to rid the world of so consummate a reptile, but that is neither here nor there. To come to my business. You must give me forthwith y our promise to abandon your persecution of Mrs. Forster, and to leave England with out delay.’ ‘I do not understand.’ ‘Oh yes, you do!’ ‘Who is the lady?’ asked Gavrolles, with a sneer. ‘Pray be explicit. I know no person of the name you mention.’ ‘I mean the wife of Mr. James Forster, of Kensington. Do not assume ignorance. I know the nature of your relations together.’ ‘Pardon me, but in your capacity of bully, of _bandit_, monsieur, you overrate my intelligence. I know the gentleman to whom you allude. I have not the pleasure of knowing his wife.’ ‘Read those paragraphs.’