"I am Janet Gordon, Mr. Busham! I think you know that."
"Indeed, I do not, dear lady. You are one of twins, remember--a kind of double-face female, Janus, eh?"
"Cease your insolence, man!" said Ellis, angrily, "and tell me how dare you walk into my room without knocking?"
"Oh, I informed your landlady that I was an old friend of yours, so she let me pass. She looks a fool, doctor. You don't offer me a seat. Well, I will anticipate your hospitality and take one. And who is this gentleman?"
"My name is Cass. I am a journalist," said Harry, enraged at the man's impudence. "What the deuce do you come here for?"
"Not to see you, my dear sir. My business is with Dr. Ellis, and possibly with Miss Gordon."
"Have you come to confess?" asked Janet, quietly.
"Confess! I have nothing to confess. I come here to make a proposal."
Ellis shrugged his shoulders. "You have brass enough for anything, I think," said he. "Well, Mr. Busham, and what is your proposal?"
"Let Mrs. Moxton surrender all my uncle's property to me. Now that Edgar is dead, I am his rightful heir, being his nephew, and nearest of kin. I destroyed the will--I don't mind admitting it, because Mrs. Moxton is in my power, and it is my place to make terms, not to be dictated to. Well, then, as the will is burnt, I take a portion of the property as next-of-kin; but that will not satisfy me. I want the whole, and," cried Busham, in a threatening tone, "I mean to have it!"