"No, sir, I am not. I have called on business too important to be discussed out here."
"Then you had better come inside and tell it," he answered, leading the way into the house.
"I called to see you about that fellow Wyckliffe," said Hal, as he sat down in the library.
"What about him? Are you a friend of his?" snarled the old man.
"No, I am not; and that is my reason for calling on you."
"Curse him, I say. Curse him," added the old man, emphatically.
"You're not the first who has had cause to do that," said Hal, solemnly, wishing to gain his host's confidence.
"Do you know him then?"
"By reputation, yes; otherwise, no."
"Then why do you call on me?"