When Ramage said this, I became suddenly aware of a great gulf opening at my feet with a prospect of danger such as I had never before contemplated. I thought that the man might swear upon me some crime of which I was innocent and so bring it home to me by a diabolical artifice that I should be accused, found guilty, and executed. I reeled and turned pale. Alice caught my hand. 'Have faith, my dear,' she said. Yet the thought was like a knife piercing me through and through. I could not afterwards shake it off. And I made up my mind--I know not why--that the charge would take the form of an accusation of forgery. '"Probus," said Mr. Matthew, "I will have nothing to do with this----" '"Sir, you need not. Give me your word only, your simple word that if your cousin refuses to sign the paper I shall lay before him, so that you cannot raise money on that succession--and if within two months of this day your cousin dies, so that you will succeed before you are bankrupt, I am to take half that money in full discharge of all my claims. That is all. I will leave you now, to think the matter over." 'He went away. The next day he returned, bringing with him a man whom I had never seen before. '"Mr. Matthew," he said, "I have brought you a gentleman whose acquaintance with our criminal law is vast--probably unequaled. His name, Sir, is Merridew." '"His honour says no more than what is true," said Mr. Merridew. "I know more than most. I understand you want me to advise you on a little matter of prosecution. Well, Sir, I can only say that if you want a friend put out of the way, so to speak, nothing is easier, for them that knows how to work the job and can command the instruments. It is only a question of pay." Then they talked in whispers and I heard no more. When they were gone Mr. Matthew began to drink again. 'That is all, Mr. Will. But have a care. You now know what to expect, sir; there will be no pity from any of them. Have a care. Go away. Go to some place where they cannot find you. Sir, the man Probus is mad. He is mad with the misery of losing his money. There is nothing that he will not do. He is a money-lender: his money is all in all to him: his profession and his pride and everything. And he has lost his money. Go out of his way.' 'Is that all, Ramage?' 'Yes, Sir. That is all I had to say.' 'Then, my old friend, you have come just in time, for if I mistake not there is Mr. Probus himself walking across the meadow with the intention of calling here. You could not have chosen a better time.' Indeed, that was the case. The man was actually walking quickly across the Marsh. 'Now, Ramage,' I said, 'it would be well for you to hear what he has to say. Go into the kitchen and wait with the door ajar--go. Alice, my dear, stay here with me.' 'Remember, Will,' she said, 'it was your father's last command. To sell it would be to sell your father's forgiveness--a dreadful thing.'