"I swear it!" he breathed passionately.
"But the reason?"
Paslow hesitated. "It was connected with money," he confessed at last. "Your father--or, rather, your stepfather--had a mortgage on nearly the whole of my property. I have lately inherited a small sum of money, and went to-day to ask Mr. Alpenny to arrange about paying off part of the mortgage. He accused me of wishing to rob him."
"But why, when you desired to pay off the mortgage?"
"I can't say. I think"--Vivian hesitated--"I think that he wishes to get possession of the Grange."
"And his reason?"
"I can't tell you that. But the moment I offered to pay the money he burst out into a rage and said that I wanted to rob him. Then I warned him as to something I had heard against him in London."
"What is that?" she asked in startled tones.
"I dare not tell you just now."
"Is it connected with the Black Patch?"