"This _is_ my business, you brat----" "Jane," said Cain pointing to the hotel, "yonder is Mrs. Whiffles waving to you. Drive over. I'll send you my address, and you can write to me. Good-bye, dear." He would have climbed on the cart and kissed her, but that the so-called Italian drew him back. Jane, rather started and puzzled by the dominion this stranger seemed to exercise over Cain, drove hastily away to the curb where fat Mrs. Whiffles stood waving her fat arms. She looked back to see Cain and Antonio in fierce conversation, and dreaded a quarrel. And indeed there would have been a quarrel but for the boy's self-possession. Cain appeared to have far more command of his temper than the older man, and spoke quietly enough. "See here," he said, "I won't have you interfering with my affairs." "Do you know who I am?" demanded Antonio again. "You asked me that before and in public," said Cain, "and I told you, you were Signor Antonio. But you know well enough what you are and so do I." "And what am I?" jeered Antonio. "You're the man that deserted his wife and child, and your name is Giles Merry." "Yes, it is, and don't you talk of deserting, you brat. I'm your father, so you look out. I'll thrash you." "Oh no, you won't," said Cain boldly, "I'm quite equal to standing up to you, father. Leave my business alone, I've put up with you ever since we met a year ago, and I did what you wanted because you promised me not to go near my mother. I learn that you have written that you intend to call on her." "What if I do? She's my wife as you're my son. She's got a house over her head, and money, and I've got a right to share both." "No, you haven't," said Cain sharply, "you're no father of mine, as you deserted me and mother when we were poor. Now that we've got money, you'd come and make mother miserable. I kept my part of the bargain, so you keep to yours. If you write mother again or go near her, I'll make things hot." Antonio made a dash at the boy--they were now in a quiet side street--and gasped with rage. "You unnatural young cuckoo----" "Leave me alone, father, or I'll sing out for the police." "What!" Antonio, finding force would not do, began to whine, "you'd run in your poor old father?" "I don't want to," said Cain, "but if you force me to, I must. All I ask is for you to keep away from mother, and leave me alone. If you don't, I'll tell Wasp something he may like to hear." The older man turned pale through his swarthy skin. "What will you tell him?" he asked in a thick voice. "Never you mind. But I know you saw Mr. Strode when he came to the circus that night after Lord Saltars. Then there's Butsey----" "What about Butsey?" asked the father uneasily, and glaring. "Nothing. Only he's a bad lot. I'm no great shakes myself," admitted Cain sadly, "but I'm beginning to see how wicked I am. If I was as bad as Butsey, father, I'd not treat you like this. You sent Butsey with a lying message to mother----"