"I have forgotten nothing," Lord Jura assured him, in a steady, ominous voice.
"That's just as well," declared Captain Dove, who seemed determined to stand his ground, "because it will save me reminding you, before your fashionable friends, how much I've done for you, first and last, since I picked you up derelict on the beach at Yedo. You'd have been very badly off without me then, eh! And, but for me, you'd maybe have come to a worse end than starving, since. I've brought you back to your own, when all's said and done. It doesn't say much for you, Lord Jura, that you'd turn round on me now!"
He spoke pathetically, as one disappointed in the return made him for favours lavished with a free hand. And such of the others as did not know the real facts of the matter looked somewhat doubtfully at Lord Jura. Captain Dove was obviously pleased with the impression he had produced.
"Everything you have done has been done entirely to serve your own ends," the ex-engineer answered him in few words. "I owe you no favour—not the very slightest. You owe me God knows how many years of my life that you've tricked me out of. And, what's more—"
"And what's more," Captain Dove interrupted, "you think you owe me only a grudge. You've no more use for me now that I've served your turn. I've asked nothing of you, you'll notice. It's only because you've thought fit to threaten me that I've reminded you—"
"There was no need," Lord Jura asserted. "I have forgotten nothing. You can tell your side of the story to the judge at the next assizes—and I'll tell mine."
Mr. Jobling's puffy face blanched at that, but Captain Dove did not even change countenance.
"So much for yourself," said he patiently. "You think you can best whiten your own record by trying to blacken mine. I'll say no more about that—except that it isn't always true that dead men tell no tales. And you'll have to tell the judge at the next assizes the real reason why you ran away from home."
He was watching the other's face narrowly, to see what effect that stray shot might have, and was clearly encouraged at seeing Lord Jura wince.
"But there's another point to be settled," he went on with slow insistence, "before we go any further. I've brought you back to your own, as I said, and, more than that, I've brought you back—your sister. I wouldn't have made any song-an'-dance about such a small matter either, but—since it's to be debit and credit between us, I'd like to know how you think that affects the account.