"You don't suppose that he has any suspicions of the truth?"
"To be sure he hasn't. After all but for Tollart's evidence and that of old Ark, we should never have been able to nail him. I tell you, Rupert, that Carrington has not the least idea of what is about to happen."
"Poor devil! And yet he deserves his fate. The murder of Leigh was cowardly in the extreme."
"It was," assented the other. "Don't be a tender-hearted fool, man."
"I would rather be a fool according to my light than a wise man according to yours, Mallien."
"And I am quite content," chuckled the little man, "for no one but a fool would give up the property as you are doing."
"I haven't given it up yet," said Rupert, disgusted with this brutal speech, "and I may not be the fool you take me to be."
For all his insolence Mallien was plainly disconcerted by this frank statement, and began to think that he had gone too far. A muttered apology was on his lips, but was cut short by the entrance of Dr. Tollart. Immediately behind him shuffled old Ark, who seated himself near the door, chuckling and rubbing his hands with the air of a man who was highly pleased with himself. Mallien and the doctor, who were by no means friends, exchanged a curt greeting, and Tollart, turning his back on the prospective Squire of Barship, talked ostentatiously to Rupert.
"Mr. Carrington will be here almost at once," he declared, drawing off his gloves slowly; "he walked up behind Ark and myself as we reached the gates."
Even as he spoke the footman appeared to announce the barrister. Carrington, evidently considering himself master of the situation, walked in with a victorious air. He looked smart and alert, being quite in his best form. In a well-cut suit of blue serge, with a straw hat and brown shoes, he had apparently arrayed himself in his best to receive the money he expected. Of course, he did not anticipate that the five thousand would be handed to him at once; but when things were arranged between Hendle and Mallien as to the possession of the property, then Carrington intended to get a promise in writing of his share of the plunder. Not for one moment did he think that anything was wrong, and he even offered his hand to Rupert with an insolent air of pity.