“Then the Don lied, and I'll tell him so,” Darrell retorted.
“Are you sure that Mr. Clarence did not buy the land unbeknown to you?” Mathews asked.
“What do you mean, sir? Do you mean to say that my own son would put me in such a ridiculous position? No, I think it is more likely that, as Hughes says, the Don had the false entry made on the strength of my having promised to pay him for the land I would take. But I'll teach him that I am not to be dragged into a bargain like that.”
“What would the Don gain by that? Nothing. No, if you will not be offended, I'll tell you what I heard is the most likely theory of it all,” Gasbang began.
“And who in the devil has been building theories on my affairs? I'd like to see the fellow who does that,” thundered Darrell.
“It was my lawyer, who casually discovered that entry in the notary's books, and told me of it. He meant no harm,” Gasbang explained, with conciliatory amiability.
“Of course, he meant no harm. Lawyers of the Peter Roper stamp never do. When they go sticking their noses into people's business, they do so casually. And your lawyer—Mr. Roper, I suppose—being a very innocent and straightforward and honorable, high-toned man, who never gets drunk, he did not mean any harm, and accidentally, purely so, made this discovery, and no danger of his having been too drunk to read straight, either. Look here, John, don't you talk to me as if you thought me idiotic, for I am not. But what is this innocent theory of this unsophisticated, honorable Peter Roper? Let us see.”
“Well, he thinks that Mr. Clarence being in love with the Don's daughter, probably bought the land to propitiate the family, and dated back the deed of sale,” Gasbang said.
Darrell was silent, but shook his head.
“You see, the Don could have had no object in putting on record that he had received six thousand four hundred dollars, unless he did so,” said Miller.