“An attack?” “Yes.” “Who is there?” said Potts, defiantly. “Giovanni Cavallo, for one; my seniors, Messrs. Bigelow & Higginson, and several others. “Never heard of any of them before.” “Perhaps not. But if you write to Smithers & Co. they will tell you that Bigelow, Higginson, & Co. are their solicitors, and do their confidential business.” “Smithers & Co.?” said Potts, aghast. “Yes. It would not be for your interest for Bigelow, Higginson, & Co. to show Smithers & Co. the proofs which they have against you, would it?” Potts was silent. An expression of consternation came over his face. He plunged his hands deep in his pockets and bowed his head frowningly. “It is all bosh,” said he, at last, raising his head. “Let them show and be d---d. What have they got to show?” “I will answer your question regularly,” said the stranger, “in accordance with my instructions”--and, drawing a pocket-book from his pocket, he began to read from some memoranda written there. “1st. The notes to which the name of Ralph Brandon is attached, 150 in number, amounting to £93,500.” “Pooh!” said Potts. “These forgeries were known to several besides your son and yourself, and one of these men will testify against you. Others who know Brandon’s signature swear that this lacks an important point of distinction common to all the Brandon signatures handed down from father to son. You were foolish to leave these notes afloat. They have all been bought up on a speculation by those who wished to make the Brandon property a little dearer.” “I don’t think they’ll make a fortune out of the speculation,” said Potts, who was stifling with rage. “D--n them! who are they?” “Well, there are several witnesses who are men of such character that if my seniors sent them to Smithers & Co. Smithers & Co. would believe that you were guilty. In a court of law you would have no better chance. One of these witnesses says he can prove that your true name is Briggs.” At this Potts bounded from his chair and stepped forward with a terrific oath. “You see, your son’s neck is in very considerable danger.” “Yours is in greater,” said Potts, with menacing eyes. “Not at all. Even supposing that you were absurd enough to offer violence to an humble subordinate like me, it would not interfere with the policy of Messrs. Bigelow, Higginson, & Co., who are determined to make money out of this transaction. So you see it’s absurd to talk of violence.” The stranger took no further notice of Potts, but looked again at his memoranda; while the latter, whose face was now terrific from the furious passions which it exhibited, stood like a wild beast in a cage, “willing to wound, but yet afraid to strike.” “The next case,” said the stranger, “is the Thornton forgery.” “Thornton!” exclaimed Potts, with greater agitation.