Sir Stephen leant forward, his head on his hands, his eyes fixed on the

heavy, stolid face of the speaker, the face which the keen, hawk-like

eyes flashed under the lowered lids with a gleam of power and triumph.

--"Your father had reason to hope that he would acquire those lands and

rights; he did not know that I had been waiting for some years past to

obtain them. If knowledge is power and money, ignorance is impotence

and ruin. My knowledge against your father's ignorance has given me the

victory. Last night I gained my point: the news to that effect is no

doubt contained in that document. It was a question of price--it always

is. I knew your father's bid, and--I went a few thousands higher and

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got the prize. That's the story in a nutshell. Of course there are a

number of complications and details, but I spare you them; in fact, I

don't suppose you understand them. It is a mere matter of business"

"No, of revenge!" said Sir Stephen's hollow voice. "Stafford, years ago

I did this man a wrong. I--I have repented; I would have made

atonement, reparation; but he put the offer aside. Here, in this house,

he professed to have forgiven and forgotten--professed friendship. It

was a piece of treachery and deceit; under that specious mask, behind

that screen, he has worked my ruin!"

"Ruin!" said Stafford, in a low voice. "Surely you exaggerate, father!

You mean that you will lose a lot of money--Oh, I can understand that,

of course. But not ruin!"

"Yes, _ruin!_" said Sir Stephen, hoarsely. "If you doubt it, look at

him!"

Falconer was standing with a sardonic smile in his eyes.

Stafford started.

"Is this true, Mr. Falconer?"

Falconer was silent for a moment, then he said, slowly, grimly: "In a sense--yes. Your father's fate lies in my hands."

"In your hands!" echoed Stafford, with amazement.

Sir Stephen groaned and rose, supporting himself by the arm of the

chair.

"It is true, Stafford. He--he has planned it with the skill of a

general, a Napoleon! I see it all now, it is all plain to me. You held

my shares and securities, of course, Falconer?"

Falconer nodded.

"Of course!" he said, drily.

"And you have run them down to meet this scheme of yours."

"Yes, of course!" said Falconer, again. "My dear Steve--Sir

Stephen--pardon!--your fate, as I have said, is in my hands. It is

simply a matter of tit-for-tat. You had your turn some years ago out

there"--he waved his hand. "It is my turn now. You can't complain. Do

you admit the justice of the thing?"




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