"Stuff and nonsense!" cried Jim, although he reddened with pleasure at this tribute of friendship, "as if I or Bess would have taken a penny of it. Oh! I see what your game was Frisco. You wanted Robin to marry Bess, and then you would have got witnesses to this will, and taken the money from Stephen. Is that so?"
"That is so," rejoined Frisco leaning back, "as the fool could not get the girl, I tried the other plan of stopping Marsh going to the vault. That failed because of you Dr. Herrick. If it had not been for you I'd have had that money."
"You confess your villainies very coolly," said Marsh-Carr sharply, "do you know that I can lay you by the heels for that assault."
"Oh, no you can't. T'was Santiago struck you. You can't prove that I had anything to do with it. And," said Frisco impudently, "you would not if you could. Remember, I held my tongue about----"
"Yes! Yes," said Stephen hastily, "it was good of you to say nothing about my unhappy mother. I am so far indebted to you--"
"Ah! that's just what I've come about."
"What do you mean?" asked Jim sharply.
"Lord! Doc, you ain't half sharp enough. I want the Squire here to give me a thousand pounds to start afresh. I and Robin are going back to the States, and we want something to begin life on."
"That is only fair," put in Stephen eagerly, "I am----"
"Wait a bit," said Jim, "let us hear on what grounds Frisco asks you to do this."