‘’Mph!’ said the General. ‘Be that as it may, as a partner in this concern, I may conceivably be made liable for two hundred thousand pounds?’ ‘That’s the law, sir.’ ‘That being so, I must take this business into my own hands. Until I am legally advised to a contrary action I shall take no step without informing you of it. But the thing is too serious to be neglected, and I have little liking for your way of meeting it, Jervase, though I like your cousin’s less.’ After this declaration, there was silence for the space of a full minute, and then James came back, his slight figure absurdly costumed in his cousin’s clothes, which were too long for him in the arm, too short in the leg, and too full everywhere. ‘Your cousin and I, Mr. Jervoyce,’ said the General, ‘have arrived at a partial understanding, and I must make the position clear as between you and myself. When did you first hear of this accusation?’ ‘To-day,’ said James. ‘Never a word until to-day.’ ‘When did you hear of this man Light-foot, late of Melbourne, and now in England?’ James cast a piteously beseeching eye towards Jervase, and the General held out a hand towards the latter as if to interdict the speaking of a word. He repeated his question. ‘When did you first hear of the man Lightfoot, late of Melbourne? Now, come, sir,’ the General cried, in a voice of command, ‘you are here to answer that question on your own responsibility. You don’t choose to answer? Now, the story is that these men have been blackmailing you. Assuming that story to be true, they have been paid, and it is evident that there must be some means of discovering the channel through which payments have been made. Are you prepared to submit to an examination of your books?’ ‘I am,’ said John Jervase, ‘willingly, at any moment.’ ‘You!’ cried James. ‘And not you?’ said the General. ‘Well, that simplifies matters.’ The wretched James had all but surrendered himself to fate a quarter of an hour before, and now, seeing that he had betrayed himself, he cast the case up altogether, and, throwing both arms upon the table, fell on his knees beside it, dropped his face upon his hands, and began to whimper.