"I can only judge the future by the past, and since you are quite ready to play Lord Derrington false----" "Who says that?" cried the man, sitting down, but looking defiant. "I say so. Lord Derrington has told me all." "All what?" demanded Bawdsey, willfully ignorant. "All that took place on the night when you came to this house to impersonate him." Bawdsey laughed, and his face cleared. "If that is your disagreeable business, sir, I can easily put that to rights." "Can you explain why you drugged him, why you threatened him?" "I did not threaten him." "Lord Derrington informed me that you threatened to get him into trouble. That was why he consulted me, and that is why I have come to tell you that if you fight Lord Derrington you will fight me also. Lord Derrington is old, but I am young, and I am quite equal to dealing with you." "I never denied that," said Bawdsey, calmly. "I quite recognize that you are a strong man, Mr. Vane, although it is not to my interest to admit as much." "That's your business," rejoined George, coolly. "I play with all my cards on the table. What those are which you have concealed I do not know, but I am quite prepared to play the game. And at the present moment you need not call me by my father's name. I have not yet assumed my position. When I do, George Vane will have nothing to do with you." "But George Brendon has," said Bawdsey, with a flash of his eyes. "Don't press too hard, Mr. Brendon. I am willing to do you a service, and you are misjudging me." "I am sorry you should think so. Let us cease this bickering. I am willing to hear what you have to say." "If you are satisfied with my explanation, will you endeavor to get Lola to marry me?" "That has nothing to do with me." "But you have influence with her." "It shall not be used to make her miserable. I know nothing about you save what my grandfather told me, and his report does not bias me in your favor. For all I know you might make poor Lola the worst husband in the world." Bawdsey shrugged his shoulders. "Lola is well able to look after herself," he said. "I think I mentioned that before. But if you are satisfied with what I am about to tell you, will you help me?" "I'll do my best," said George, impatiently. "Lola is sure to lose this engagement sooner or later through her vile temper. I do not want to see her on the streets again, and she may as well be supported by you in a respectable manner as by any one else. Besides, as you truly say, she can take care of her own skin. But I shall not advise her to marry you unless you prove to me that you did not intend to blackmail Lord Derrington." "Nothing was further from my thoughts," said Bawdsey, earnestly; "it was to my interest that your grandfather should hold his tongue about my having been to this house----" "He would not have known had you not told him voluntarily."