Raffles was following intently, with that complete concentration which was a signal force in his equipment. His face no longer changed at anything he heard; it was as strenuously attentive as that of any judge upon the bench. Never had I clearer vision of the man he might have been but for the kink in his nature which had made him what he was.
"The promissory note was for four-fifty-six," said he, "and this sudden demand was for the lot less the hundred you had paid?"
"That's it."
"What did you do?" I asked, not to seem behind Raffles in my grasp of the case.
"Told them to take my instalment or go to blazes for the rest!"
"And they?"
"Absolutely drop the whole thing until this very week, and then come down on me for—what do you suppose?"
"Getting on for a thousand," said Raffles after a moment's thought.
"Nonsense!" I cried. Garland looked astonished too.
"Raffles knows all about it," said he. "Seven hundred was the actual figure. I needn't tell you I have given the bounders a wide berth since the day I raised the wind; but I went and had it out with them over this. And half the seven hundred is for default interest, I'll trouble you, from the beginning of January down to date!"