His meal was interrupted by a smart young waiter, who intimated that a lady and gentleman wished to see the Major. Tidman was rather surprised at a call being paid at ten o'clock in the morning: but he was still more surprised, when at the heels of the waiter appeared Miss Pewsey and Dr. Forge. The latter looked much his usual self, hungry, dismal, and like a bird of prey: but Miss Pewsey had a colour in her cheeks and a fire in her black eyes, which made her look younger. It seemed that her errand was not a peaceful one. "To what am I indebted--?" began the courtly Major, when the little old maid cut him short with vinegary politeness. "Indebted," she said, standing very straight and stiff, and quite ignoring the chair placed for her. "Oh, indeed,--how very polite we are. Judas!" she snapped out the word with flaming eyes. "Oh, Judas!" "Really, Miss Pewsey----" "You'd like to see me in the dock would you?" cried Miss Pewsey tossing her head and trembling with wrath, "I'm a thief am I--oh you military fat Judas." "Did you come here to insult me?" asked Tidman growing purple. "If you put it in that way I did," sniffed the lady, "and also to ask plainly, what you meant by stating to my promised husband here, that I stole a fan from his cabinet?" Tidman changed from purple to scarlet. He had not reckoned on the doctor speaking to Miss Pewsey, and he turned a look of reproach on his friend. The doctor immediately took up the challenge, "I see you think I have been too free with my tongue," said he deliberately, "it is not my custom as you know. But I told you Major that I was engaged to Miss Pewsey, and I thought it only right that she should know the aspersions you have cast on her character." "A character," cried the lady, "which has stood the test of years and which stands deservedly high. I am a Pewsey of Essex," she added as though the whole county belonged to her, "and never before have I been accused of thieving--Judas," she shot out the name again, and the Major quailed. He saw that he was in the wrong, owing to Forge's betrayal, and had to make the best of it. "I am extremely sorry," he said apologetically, "quite a mistake." "Oh, indeed. A jury will give their opinion on that," sniffed the maiden. "No! No I beg of you----" "The damages will be laid at five thousand pounds." "The price of the fan," said Tidman starting. "What do you mean by that?" asked Miss Pewsey, her eyes glittering. "I mean, just nothing." "Oh yes, you do. Make a clean breast of it Benjamin Tidman. Oh, to think that the son of a farmer, who was almost a labourer, should dare to speak evil of a Pewsey of Essex. But the law--the law," said the irate lady shaking a thin finger, "and five thousand pounds." "Get it out of the fan." "Is it worth that?" asked Forge coldly. "You heard what young Ainsleigh said," answered Tidman as coldly. "Yes I remember; but we have not come about the price, but about your libel on this lady."