“I have. I guess that’s no disgrace,” smiled Perry Lamont, who was inordinately proud of his son and heir. “He’s at the club just now?” “That’s his pleasure, I suppose.” “Certainly. Is he your only son?” “He is.” “And you look to him to keep up the honor of the house of Lamont?” “He’ll do that, never fear, Claude will.” “That is, he will if the law will let him.” The nabob started. “Have a care, sir!” he cried, coloring. “This is my house, and a man’s house is his castle.” “That’s old, but good,” grinned the unwelcome and uncivil caller. “I’ve often wondered where that saying originated, but never had time to look it up.” Lamont looked at the man amazed, for he never saw such coolness in all his life. “You’ve got a daughter, too,” continued the stranger. “What’s that to you?” “Not much, perhaps, but a good deal to you.” “There you’re right; but you shall not make sport of my child. My affection for her is too sacred for that.” “She’s pretty and good. I know her.” “_You?_” almost roared the millionaire, falling back in his chair and staring at the other. “This is carrying a joke too far.” “Just as you think; but let’s go back to Claude.” “No, I won’t have another thing to do with you. You remember you are not an invited guest----” “That’s right--not an invited guest, but I don’t quit this house till I care to go.” “By Jove----” “Come, come, keep your temper.” “You won’t let me,” said Lamont, with a faint smile. “Well, this boy of yours is a little wild. He’s the lion of the club, but he don’t always keep within the bounds of the law.” “How?” “I don’t mean to insinuate anything, only to remind you that he is just now harvesting his crop of wild oats.” “Just as far too as many boys do.” “But the yield is larger on some grounds than on others.” “You don’t mean----” “That your hopeful is reaping a gorgeous crop, eh? That’s it precisely.” “But he knows when to stop.” “The sheriff will do that.” Lamont started forward, and for the first time his face became really pale. “That’s an insult!” “I thought you would consider it such.” “It is infamous!” “You’re good at words.” “Come, this interview is at an end.” “Not yet. What will you give to save your son?” “To save him? He’s committed no crime yet----” “Will you give ten thousand?” “Not a dollar! If Claude has committed some little indiscretion such as young men will----” “He’s done more than that. It would be charity to designate it by the name you have just mentioned, but the authorities would call it something else.” “Where is Claude?” “At the club, just where you said he was.” “Then----” “I’ll take ten thousand and save the boy.” “From what?” “The electric chair!” Perry Lamont seemed to reel in his chair, and it was with difficulty that he kept his seat. “It’s a lie!” he cried. “Just as you like. It’s all true, however.” “It’s false, I say, as false as perdition! My boy wouldn’t stoop to crime.”