"I ask you, Colonel Towton, if this is the way for one gentleman to treat another?" demanded the trapped rogue.
"Two gentlemen," corrected the Colonel coldly, "who are dealing with a confounded scoundrel."
"I'll make you pay for those words," threatened Maunders, biting his lips.
"I don't recognise your right to demand satisfaction as I only deal with gentlemen. Mr. Vernon and myself have run you to earth, and----"
"How did you find out that I was here?" interrupted Maunders curiously.
"We did not expect to find you here," said Vernon, still with his back to the door and keeping a watchful eye on his former friend. "We came down on other business, connected with Mr. Hest."
"With Hest?" Maunders appeared perturbed.
"What do you know about him?" asked Towton sharply, and noticing the change of expression.
"I know nothing, save that he is stopping here."
"And how do you come to be in this house?"