“It is false! I don’t owe you a penny.”

The tailor shook his head.

“I can’t afford to lose it, Sir Richard; and you can’t say but what I want to make it easy for you with them bills.”

“I do not want anything made easy for me,” cried the young man; “I can pay my just debts.”

“And, don’t you see, sir, it wouldn’t be pleasant for you if I was to write to your parents and guardians—leastwise, as you have no parents, your guardians—and ask them?”

“Write to them, and so will I.”

“But I don’t want to do such a shabby thing about a gent as I’ve tried to oblige.”

“I tell you I never authorised anyone to borrow money for me, sir.”

“Well, Sir Richard Frayne, Baronet, there’s the transaction down in a neat handwriting in my book, and I give a cheque for it, and there’s the cheque as come back from the bank with your name on the back, as well as Mr Mark Frayne’s on the receipt.”

“What?”