Mallow put his hands to his head quite bewildered by the information.
"You must give me time to think," he said, "but if I consent—"
"You marry Miss Saxon. I ask no reward for my services. All I want is to get you out of my way as regards Maraquito. I will give you the forged check on the day you wed Miss Saxon. I can see," added Hale, rising, "that you are somewhat upset with this news, and no wonder. You never thought Basil was such a scoundrel."
"I thought him a fool, never a knave."
"My dear sir, he is a thoroughly bad man," said Hale cynically, "though I daresay other people are just as bad. However, I will give you a week to think over the matter. Good-night."
"Good-night," said Mallow, touching the bell, but without meeting the gaze of Hale, "I will think over what you have said."
"You will find it to your advantage to do so," replied Hale, and went out of the room at the heels of the servant.
Mallow remained where he was in deep thought. It was terrible to think that the brother of Juliet should be such a scamp. A forger and perhaps something else. Here, indeed, was a motive for Miss Loach to meet with her death at her nephew's hand. Probably on the night in question she threatened to let the law take its course, and then Basil—but at this point of his meditations a ring came at the door. In a few moments Cuthbert heard a step he knew and rose with an agitated air. Basil entered the room.
The young man was carefully dressed as usual in his rather affected way, but his face was pale and he seemed uneasy. "I see you have had a visit from Hale," he said, trying to appear at his ease.
"How do you know that?" asked Mallow abruptly, and declining to see the proffered hand.