"What do you want of me?" I asked, still standing and allowing him to do the same.
"In the first place," he answered, "perhaps you will permit me to take a chair. In the second, you may be kind enough to read a letter which I have brought."
He took the chair, without waiting for my permission and I received the letter, which I saw at once was addressed in the handwriting of my Uncle Dugald.
My Dear Nephew [it read]:—This will introduce Detective Daly of the Blinkerdons, who, at my request, has been for eight or nine weeks attending to matters of importance to you. He will show you his bill for services and expenses, which I would suggest deserves your early consideration. If you decline, for any reason, to pay the bill, kindly let me know at once, that I may give him my own check for the amount.
Yours, etc.,
Dugald Camran.
New York, April 9th, 1898.
I opened the bill, which had fallen upon the table, and read the following:
| Donald Camran, Esq., to Martin Daly, | Dr. |
| To services ninety days at $7 per day | $630.00 |
| To expenses of travel, etc., | 521.50 |
| To cash paid pawnbroker at Martinique and holder of ticket | 125.00 |
| ———— $1276.50 |
"What the devil does this mean, sir?" I demanded, very red in the face.