“You think you can claim half the credit for the idea and half the trouble?”
“I can claim all the risk—practically.”
“Pooh!” said Welsh. “You think I risked nothing? Come, come, let’s talk of something else.”
“Oh, rot!” interrupted Twiddel, who by this time was decidedly flushed. “You needn’t ride the high horse like that, you are not Mr Mandell-Essington any longer.”
With a violent start, the clergyman brought his fist crash on the table, and exclaimed aloud, “By Heaven, that’s it!”
CHAPTER V.
As one may suppose, everybody in the room started in great astonishment at this extraordinary outburst. With a sharp “Hollo!” Twiddel turned in his seat, to see the clergyman standing over him with a look of the keenest inquiry in his well-favoured face.
“May I ask, Dr Twiddel, what you know of the gentleman you just named?” he said, with perfect politeness.
The conscience-smitten doctor gazed at him blankly, and the colour suddenly left his face. But Welsh’s nerves were stronger; and, as he looked hard at the stranger, a jubilant light leaped to his eyes.