"I don't think anything," rejoined Curberry with a shrug, "except that I am anxious to know why you desire a private conversation." "It is about Lillian----" "Miss Moon, if you please." "Lillian to me, Lord Curberry." "Nothing of the sort, sir," cried the other suitor furiously, and his pale eyes grew angry. "Sir John Moon wishes me to marry his niece." "Probably, but his niece wishes to marry me." "That she shall never do." "Oh, I think so. And what I wish to say, Lord Curberry, is this--that you annoy Miss Moon with your attentions. They must cease." "How dare you; how dare you; how dare you!" "Oh, I dare anything where Lillian is concerned," retorted Halliday, and again in a careless manner took up the book, leaning against the table and crossing his legs as he did so. "Leave my house," cried Curberry, starting to his feet, for this nonchalant behavior irritated him greatly. "Oh, willingly. I simply stayed to warn you that Lillian must not be annoyed by you in any way." "And if I do not obey you?" sneered the other, quivering with rage. "I shall make myself unpleasant, Lord Curberry." "Do you know to whom you are speaking?" "Well," said Dan slowly, and with a keen glance at the angry face, "I am not quite sure. I am not Asmodeus to unroof houses, you know." Curberry's yellow face suddenly became white, and his lips trembled nervously. "I don't understand you." "I scarcely understand myself, and----" "Wait," interrupted Curberry, as a knock came to the door, "there is no need to let every one overhear our conversation. Come in!" he cried aloud. The butler entered. "You are wanted at the inquest, my lord," he said, and as Curberry's face was bent inquiringly on that of the servant, Dan seized the opportunity to slip a stiff sheaf of papers out of the Gibbon volume. As a matter of fact, it was three or four sheets joined at the corner by a brass clasp. Scarcely had he got it in his hand when Curberry wheeled, after hurriedly telling the butler that he would come shortly. "What have you there?" demanded the host, advancing menacingly. "Some papers of mine," said Dan, preparing to put the sheets into his pocket. "It's a lie. You must have taken them from the table, or out of that book, Mr. Halliday. Yes, I am sure you did. Give me what you have taken." "No," said Dan, retreating before Curberry's advance, "you are not to----" Before he could get another word, the man flung himself forward and made a snatch at the papers. Held loosely by the corner clasp they flew into a kind of fan, and Curberry managed to grip one or two of the sheets. In the momentary struggle these were torn away, and then the owner of the house released himself suddenly. The next moment he had flung the sheets into the fire, apparently thinking he had got them all. Dan cleverly thrust the one or two remaining sheets into his pocket, and played the part of a man who has been robbed. "How dare you destroy my papers," he cried indignantly.