It was a note of hand in favor of Oscar Stephenson for an advance of one hundred thousand crowns, signed in the name of the Governor and witnessed by the Factor.
The world reeled round Magnus, for he saw in a moment what the paper meant. It was almost as if his prayer to punish Oscar had been answered on the instant. The paper rustled in his hand and for some seconds he did not speak. Then he lifted his face and said:
"You ask me if this is my father's signature. Don't you think it would be more proper to ask my father himself?"
"No doubt--certainly--you are right," said the stranger, "but to protect your father--not to say yourself perhaps----"
"Perhaps," said Magnus, and he handed the paper back.
"Magnus," said the Sheriff, "I was told to watch you if you came to town to-day, but it seems to me that somebody else in your family needs watching a good deal more. Will you not give us your assistance?"
Magnus shuddered in the toils of his temptation. A voice within cried, "Speak! Denounce him! Now's your time!" His lower lip quivered, his eyelids trembled, and he answered in a hoarse voice:
"The Governor will not be back until midnight--let me come to you to-morrow morning."
"Good!" said the Sheriff, whereupon Magnus showed them out of the house and then fled away to the Factor's.
"That big fellow will speak when he wants to," said one of the strangers as the three men walked down the street, "and when he doesn't the devil himself won't make him do so."