"I was," replied the baronet, coldly. "I know what Mrs. Jerusalem thinks; I know how Binjoy has been lying to you; and I am sick of living on the verge of a precipice, over which that man and my housekeeper threaten to push me. At any cost you shall hear the truth so far as I am able to tell it to you. Ask what questions you like, Mr. Fanks, and I shall answer them; when I fail no doubt the worthy doctor there will come to my aid, and shield himself if possible at my expense." "I shall say nothing," said Binjoy, wiping his lips. "My only desire is to save myself from the consequences of your falsehoods. I wish you no harm." "Just hear him!" cried Louis, in a mocking tone. "Would you believe that my friend there threatened to blackmail me last week by saying he would denounce me to the police. Well, Binjoy, here is a representative of the law. You can now speak. I give you full power to do so." Binjoy did not accept this challenge. He sat back in his chair to listen to the forthcoming conversation, and to defend himself if necessary. "Well, Sir Louis," said the detective, "I have heard your accusation and the denial of Dr. Binjoy. Until I hear your story and his I attach no value to either." Binjoy drew a long breath of relief. "I can defend myself," he said, in a defiant tone. "I can prove to you that Louis lies." "You shall have ample opportunity of doing so," replied Fanks, coldly; "in the meantime I shall hear what Sir Louis has to say." "I must begin at the beginning," said Louis, quietly. "That man Binjoy was the doctor in this village of Damington. When my father died leaving me an orphan--for my mother had died some years before--he asked Binjoy to look after me." "And I have done so," broke in Binjoy, "and this is my reward." "This is your reward for trying to blackmail me," said Fellenger, dryly. "You did your best to ruin me, and to put bad thoughts into my heart as to Gregory's wealth and my own poverty. See here, Mr. Fanks," added Louis, turning to the detective, "I am a man of science; I am devoted to my work. I wanted neither money nor title, and I would not have lifted a finger to obtain either. I did not like Gregory; he was a brutal and wicked boy, and when we were playmates together he treated me like a dog. I never saw him for years. We never corresponded or treated each other as relatives, but for all that I did not wish him evil; I did not desire his death; least of all did I desire to rob him of his titles and lands. Do you believe me, sir?" Fanks looked at the open face of the young man, and glanced at the scowl which rested on the countenance of Binjoy. Drawing his own conclusions, he replied quietly, "I believe you, Sir Louis; proceed, if you please." "Binjoy," pursued Louis, "was always lamenting that I was not the owner of the Fellenger estates; and now that I am he hopes to make me pay him large sums of money to purchase his silence." "What does he threaten to accuse you of?" said Fanks.