By this time Watson Scott was on his feet, his face dark as a storm cloud.
"Bantry Hagan, you scoundrel," he cried, "how dare you show yourself to us!"
"Now, Mr. Scott; don't excite yourself," said the intruder. "You are said to be a man with iron nerves, but your behavior this moment belies your reputation. Why shouldn't I show myself to you?"
"You know well enough, you villain! You know there is a warrant for your arrest now in the hands of the sheriff of Essex County."
"And I also know the sheriff of Essex County is not here to serve it. I further know he never will serve it."
The cool assurance of Hagan was almost staggering.
"It's an easy matter to swear out another warrant here in this city, and Mr. Merriwell is just the man to do it."
"Mr. Merriwell is just the man not to do it. Were he to take so much trouble, what would he prove against me?"
"He could prove that you were concerned in a dastardly attack upon him up in the Adirondacks, being at that time the worthy associate of Porfias del Norte, who came to a well-merited death, together with two other ruffians, by being buried by a landslide."
Hagan grinned.