"She'll draw no cheques," Slyne interrupted decisively. "You know very well that I have her formal authority to attend to all such matters for her. Whatever small sums she may require I'll procure for her, and any payments to be made on her behalf I'll make."
He met with perfect tranquillity the glances of his associates. "I'll go and tell her the news now," he remarked, and left the room.
As soon as the door had closed behind him, the lawyer turned toward Captain Dove, and, "Well?" he asked eagerly. "Was that your ship I saw at the mouth of the loch? How are you going to get rid of that domineering upstart? There isn't much time left to—"
Captain Dove held up a protesting hand, but Mr. Jobling would not be put down in that manner. He was evidently determined now to stand up for himself and those hard-earned rights out of which Slyne had undoubtedly jockeyed him in the most bare-faced, contemptuous manner.
"I really must insist on knowing what you mean to do," he declared irascibly. "I have far too much at stake to leave anything to chance at this late moment. Once Mr. Slyne reaches London, it will be too late to—"
"Hold your row!" ordered Captain Dove, so fiercely that Mr. Jobling jumped. "And—don't interfere in what doesn't concern you. All you need to know is that—Slyne will never see London again. Does that satisfy you?"
"It would—if I could believe it," observed Mr. Jobling, valiantly. "But—"
"And neither will you, if you worry me," added Captain Dove in a voice which seemed to affect his neighbour's nerve very adversely. "So help yourself to another peg and pass the bottle. I can scarcely hear myself think for your chatter, and I've got a good deal to think about."
Mr. Jobling did his very best to meet the old man's irate glance resolutely, but his own irresolute, blinking eyes soon fell before the cold menace in Captain Dove's. He replenished his glass, and having sulkily shoved the decanter across the table, lay back in his chair.
"You said that she could draw her money on Friday, didn't you?" asked Captain Dove, and he nodded, with very ill grace.