“We will not say anything more about the name at present, for it really makes no difference what it is,” said Scoble, when the path in that direction was blocked against him. “My only grief now is that you are false to me, Maud.” “I hope you will make the most of your only grief,” added the lady with pointed sarcasm. “Let us be friends, Maud; let us heal our differences.” “We can only heal them when the leopard changes his skin, and the spots cease to exist, which can never be in this world. You have proved to me that you are a thief, a swindler, an embezzler, a highwayman; and these are the differences between us. They cannot be healed, and we journey in opposite directions.” “Do not use such harsh terms, Maud, for I am not a bad man. I am as good to-day as I ever was.” “Then you have been a villain all the days of your life!” “I do not belong to any church, but I think I am better than the average of men,” added Scoble complacently. “Then may God have mercy on the average of men!” exclaimed the lady, lifting her hands towards heaven. “You told me, my dear”-- “Silence, sir!” gasped the lady, as she started in the direction of the stateroom. “One moment, Maud,” pleaded the captain, following her. “Wait a moment, mother,” interposed Louis, for he had a suspicion in regard to the villain’s last point, and he was anxious to have him state it. “If you ever address another term of endearment to me, not even my son shall call me back into your presence,” said Mrs. Belgrave, with an intensified expression of scorn on her handsome face. “You told me about a certain million of dollars left by your first husband’s father”-- “By my husband’s father! I have had but one husband,” said she. They talked for some time about the missing million; and it was plain that Scoble had not heard that it had been recovered. He admitted that he had heard of the lost treasure before he went to the Park to live, and had followed up his inquiries while residing there. “Now, madam, as neither your son nor you are disposed to treat me with proper respect, I will say at once that I know just where that lost million is located at this moment, and I can put my hand upon it at any time,” continued Scoble, with a tremendous flourish, as though he held the key to the situation, and all the obdurate woman and her son had to do was to bend the knee to him. “I am speaking to you now, madam. I have the power to put a million of dollars into your family. Let us heal our differences, and the first thing I will do after we are married again will be to put you in possession of the money,” Scoble proceeded, though he seemed to be somewhat disturbed by the coolness with which his important announcement had been received. “Do you think I would foster and cherish a villain, a swindler, a highwayman, for all the millions in the world? No!” Without another word she retreated to her stateroom. Louis told her to lock the door, which she did. CHAPTER XIII