He crossed to the chair vacated by his wife, and sat down in it. "I may as well read what that foolish Rodd has to urge in defense of his insane action, although I know quite well beforehand the line of argument he will take." With that he opened the letter and began to read: Sunbridge Jail, Thursday, 6 A.M. My Dear Foster Brother: When we were lads together you saved my life at the imminent risk of your own. The time has now come when I can cancel the debt by saving yours. To me life is a concern of little moment. So far as I know, I have not a single relative living, and were I to die tomorrow, there is not a being in the world, with the exception, maybe, of yourself, to whom that event would cause one pang of regret. You, my dear Felix, are possessed of nearly everything which tends to make existence sweet to most persons. In your wife and daughter alone you have a double tie sufficient to cause a man to cling to this world with all his might. Let me, then, for their dear sakes, if not for your own, most earnestly beg and entreat of you to accept the payment hereby offered of that just debt which has been so long owing, and which, I swear as Heaven is above me, will be joyfully discharged by Your devoted and affectionate Roden Marsh. "Just as I thought," said Drelincourt, as he refolded the letter. "Dear, true hearted, simple minded old Rodd! And does he really dream for one moment that I either shall, can, or will accept the sacrifice he is so eager to consummate? Even after all these years, how little he knows me! No, my dear Rodd, neither you, nor Gumley, nor any one shall discharge that debt which is due from Felix Drelincourt alone. So, now to consider--to consider." He lay back in his chair and closed his eyes, still holding Rodd's letter in his hand. He had sat thus for a matter of five or six minutes when the door was opened by Wicks. "Sir John Musgrave and Mr. Ormsby to see you, sir." "So! Where are they?" "I have shown them into the morning room, sir." Mr. Drelincourt's eyebrows came together for a moment. "Better show them in here," he said. "Their coming is most opportune for my purpose," he continued aloud, as soon as he was alone. "It will spare me the necessity of a journey to Sunbridge." With that he put away the letter in the breast pocket of his coat, and stood up to receive his visitors. "Now to screw my courage to the sticking place! I could laugh, were this a time for laughter, at the thought of Ormsby aghast--dumfounded--his fat cheeks quivering like a jelly--when the truth is told him. And he was so sure Gumley was the man. Poor Ormsby! At last your thirst for vengeance shall be appeased." CHAPTER XII. ON THE BRINK. "Sir John Musgrave and Mr. Ormsby," announced Wicks. Drelincourt advanced smilingly and took the baronet's proffered hand.