"Certainly. You insinuate that my income has to do with Mavis."
"You place the matter in a nutshell, Major. It has."
Rebb rose again, with the look of a man at bay. "You dare to----"
"I dare anything in the cause of Mavis," interrupted Gerald imperiously. "Don't make any mistake about my attitude, Major Rebb. If you act honestly, I am here as your friend; but if you declare war I am willing to accept your challenge."
If a look could have slain the bold speaker, Haskins would have dropped dead where he stood; but he bore Rebb's fierce gaze without flinching, and waited for him to speak. The Major made a gigantic effort, and gained control of himself sufficiently to open his mouth for a quiet question. "Where did you learn this?" he demanded.
"From the will of Captain Julian Durham at Somerset House."
"Indeed! More spying!" sneered the other, but his lip quivered.
Haskins shrugged his shoulders, and took scarcely any notice of the insult. "That is a weak speech to make," he remarked.
Rebb passed a handkerchief across his pale lips. "Who told you about the will?" he asked quietly.
"It was more an intuition than anything else," said Haskins, anxious to shield Mrs. Geary, whose chance words had put him on the track. "I saw that Mavis was sane, and that you were shutting her up for some reason. Money was the reason that suggested itself."