“After the Christian home in which you have been brought up!”
“Look here!” cried Fred. “Slang me, if you like, for being an unlucky scoundrel; but, curse it, give me none of your sickly cant.”
“Away with him, constable. Out of my sight, wretch! I disown and curse you!” cried Max.
“Take your curse back,” shrieked Fred savagely. “Example!—Christian home! What of the office? What has been done there? Where is Violante’s money?”
Max stepped back with his jaw fallen.
“Where is the hundred pounds the old man in Australia sent for Uncle Dick? Example, indeed!”
“What?” shouted Dick, starting forward. “Say that again.”
“Say it again!” shrieked Fred, who was now mad with rage: “I say two two hundreds were sent by an old relative in Australia for you and him, and he kept them both.”
“It’s a lie—a base lie!” cried Max, foaming at the mouth.
“Oh, Max, Max, Max,” said Dick sadly, “and when I was close to starving!”