"I am afraid not," said the captain. "Because, you see, the bills are all in my hands."
"Your hands?" exclaimed Lord Lackland.
"Yes, mine," answered the captain, softly and with the sweetest smile. "It is very unfortunate! I promised this worthy young man that I would use my influence with your lordship to gain your consent. I gave my word of honor, and if I were to break it I should be cut by every man in London and should not be able to enter a single club."
As he used the earl's own words, and smiled his soft, deadly smile, the earl sank into a chair and gasped for breath.
"Are you a man or a fiend?" he breathed.
"I am simply a man of business," said Mr. Murpoint, "and a man of my word."
"What am I to do? I am in your power!"
"Write a letter to this Mr. Fairfax and tell him that you cannot consent, that you rescind the promise you gave this morning."
The captain stood over him, quite the master of the situation, and dictated.