“‘Well I will tell you. I have all along suspected that you yourself were the thief for whom Riddell has been made the scapegoat. Perhaps it will be as well for me to tell you that I have from the first been sure of it. This was what made me so anxious to secure Riddell’s conviction. I hoped thereby to save our own name from disgrace. But my efforts are likely to prove futile, because, besides being a thief, a perjurer, and a scoundrel, you are proving yourself a fool. You have been spending and gambling recklessly of late, and people are talking about the amount of money you are getting through. The gossip about you has come to Mr. Lyon’s ears, and to-day I endured the greatest humiliation of my life, for I was told to my face that I had deliberately sent an innocent man to gaol, knowing the while that my son was guilty. It was in vain that I denied this. Mr. Lyon vows that he has proofs of your guilt, and he has given me his positive orders to refund the value of the theft and to endorse some story which he is going to trump up to show that no theft has been committed, or take the consequences.’ “‘Meaning that he would make me change places with Riddell! Good God! what shall I do? I can’t give up the diamonds!’ “‘But you must give them up! Do you think I will allow you to ruin us all? And simply because you want money to squander in drinking and gambling hells? Tell me what you have done with your booty.’ “‘It’s all gone. I realised the diamonds for a quarter their value, and paid my creditors with it.’ “‘What! you were heavily in debt?’ “‘Yes. I owed hundreds, and the money melted like wax.’ “‘What have you left?’ “‘About fifty pounds.’ “‘It’s a lie! You cannot have gone through the worth of all you took.’ “‘I tell you I have.’ “‘I wonder what I have done that I should be cursed by a son like you! I won’t ruin myself to buy your freedom. You shall go to gaol like the dog you are.’ “‘And what about the mater and the girls? If you won’t do it for me, you will perhaps wish you had done it for their sakes.’ “‘Ah, you have me there! You are not worth stretching out a saving hand to. But it would be hard to make them suffer for you.’ “‘Yes, I knew I should bring you to reason. What do you intend to do in the matter?’ “‘Do you think your equal for shamelessness could be found anywhere?’ “‘Suppose you stick to business. What is going to be done?’ “‘Mr. Lyon sails for America to-morrow on very important business, as you already know. He will not remain there above a week. In three weeks, therefore, we may expect him back. Before that time arrives two things must be done. I must place to the credit of Mr. Lyon and your uncle Samuel an equivalent for their share of the stolen property. And you must have left the country before then, for he has forbidden your entering the shop again, and will not pledge himself not to denounce you if he sees you.’ “‘But this is no reason why I should leave England?’ “‘There is another reason.’