"Do you call this honourable?" blustered Marshall.
"I call it caution. You are quite safe with me, and I am sure our friend Heron will say nothing."
"Certainly. I shall be guided entirely by Mr. Cass."
"But Roper might get hold of it, and then I should be lost."
"Roper will not get hold of it. I keep it, Marshall. It is for your wife's sake only that I am thus lenient. So far as you are concerned nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see you suffering a just punishment. You are the most unblushing scoundrel I have ever seen!"
"You had better look out Cass," said Marshall, threateningly. "I can make you pay dearly for these insults."
"Can any person possibly insult you?" sneered Mr. Cass. "Do what you like, but remember"--he touched his breast-pocket--"I will exact payment. Now you know. As for the rest, I don't want you in my house again, but as that might provoke remark on the part of Inez, and lead to an explanation, I will permit you to call occasionally; but I hope your visits will be rare. Were I in your place I should go abroad. Now you can go."
The man was livid with rage. He was evidently inclined to make trouble. He knew that he could go pretty far, for only the direst extremity would force Mr. Cass into creating a scandal by producing the bill. But he could find nothing to say in face of the threat held over him; and, cowed by the looks of the two men, he finally sneaked out of the room. Then he left the house, but he had recovered himself sufficiently to make a gay remark to Ruth and Jennie, whom he met returning from their walk. Truly the man was bad to the core.
"Do you believe him?" asked Heron when they were alone.
"Yes, what he says is perfectly correct. I confess I am greatly relieved."