"Exactly; because you were a fool, and because no honest man would help you to be guilty of the great sin you meant to commit, of stealing the daughter of the man who had been your father's best friend--the man who helped him to make his fortune. Scoundrels are necessary to do scoundrels' work." "But he cheated me," cried Richard; "he took my money, and he has not performed his promise." "Of course not," said Mrs Glaire. "But when did you know this?" cried Richard. "You own to it, then?" cried Mrs Glaire, gazing sharply at him. "Never mind whether I own it or not. A scoundrel! I'll serve him out for this." "I have known it only a few hours," said Mrs Glaire, sinking back on her couch, and watching the young man, as he stamped up and down the room. "But he has thrown me over," cried Richard. "I don't know where the girl is." "Who has thrown you over?" said Mrs Glaire, contemptuously. "You needn't believe me without you like," said Richard; "but I am speaking the truth now. Sim Slee was to take her across to Lupsthorpe station, and go with her to town." "Yes." "And stay with her till I came, after the heat of the row was over; for no one would have missed him." "Well?" said Mrs Glaire, contemptuously. "Well, he has thrown me over," said Richard. "I met him this morning, and found he had not been." "What did he say?" said Mrs Glaire. "Swore he couldn't find her." "Then the wolf set the fox to carry off the lamb, and now the fox says he has not seen the prey," said Mrs Glaire, smiling. "Damn your riddles and fables!" cried Richard, who was beside himself with rage. "I tell you he has sold me." "What you might have expected," said his mother. "The scoundrel has hidden her somewhere," cried Richard; "and it's his plan to get more money out of me." "What you might have expected," said Mrs Glaire, again. "You had better set the police to watch him and find him out." "Not while I can do it better myself," said the young man, with a cunning grin upon his countenance. "You have both been very clever, I dare say you think; and if the truth were known, you have been setting Sim Slee to get her away, so as to marry me to your pet; but you won't succeed." "You are wrong, Richard; I would not trust Sim Slee with the value of a penny. I gave him ten pounds for his information, and I have not seen him since. You had better employ the police." "Curse the police!" cried Richard, looking hard at his mother's face, and feeling that she was telling him the truth; "what good are they? I might have been killed before they would have interfered. But I've not done with Master Sim Slee yet." "Then you will not employ the police?" "No," said Richard, sharply; "the matter's tangled enough as it is; but he's got the wrong man to deal with, has Sim Slee, if he thinks he has cheated me so easily." "Better leave him alone," said Mrs Glaire, wearily. "You have enough to attend to with your own affairs."