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'I have the honour to inform you；' said I。
'Well； other people say the reverse； you see！'
'They lie； Ronald； and I will prove it in time。'
'The short and the long of it is； that any man who is so
unfortunate as to have such things said about him is not the man to
be my brother…in…law！' he cried。
'Do you know who will be my first witness at the court？ Arthur
Chevenix！' said I。
'I don't care！' he cried； rising from his chair and beginning to
pace outrageously about the room。 'What do you mean； St。 Ives？
What is this about？ It's like a dream； I declare！ You made an
offer； and I have refused it。 I don't like it； I don't want it；
and whatever I did； or didn't； wouldn't matter … my aunt wouldn't
bear of it anyway！ Can't you take your answer； man？'
'You must remember； Ronald； that we are playing with edged tools；'
said I。 'An offer of marriage is a delicate subject to handle。
You have refused； and you have justified your refusal by several
statements： first； that I was an impostor； second； that our
countries were at war； and third … No； I will speak；' said I； 'you
can answer when I have done； … and third； that I had dishonourably
killed … or was said to have done so … the man Goguelat。 Now； my
dear fellow； these are very awkward grounds to be taking。 From any
one else's lips I need scarce tell you how I should resent them；
but my hands are tied。 I have so much gratitude to you； without
talking of the love I bear your sister； that you insult me； when
you do so； under the cover of a complete impunity。 I must feel the
pain … and I do feel it acutely … I can do nothing to protect
myself。' He had been anxious enough to interrupt me in the
beginning； but now； and after I had ceased； he stood a long while
silent。
'St。 Ives；' he said at last； 'I think I had better go away。 This
has been very irritating。 I never at all meant to say anything of
the kind； and I apologise to you。 I have all the esteem for you
that one gentleman should have for another。 I only meant to tell
you … to show you what had influenced my mind； and that； in short；
the thing was impossible。 One thing you may be quite sure of： I
shall do nothing against you。 Will you shake hands before I go
away？' he blurted out。
'Yes；' said I； 'I agree with you … the interview has been
irritating。 Let bygones be bygones。 Good…bye； Ronald。'
'Good…bye； St。 Ives！' he returned。 'I'm heartily sorry。'
And with that he was gone。
The windows of my own sitting…room looked towards the north； but
the entrance passage drew its light from the direction of the
square。 Hence I was able to observe Ronald's departure； his very
disheartened gait； and the fact that he was joined； about half…way；
by no less a man than Major Chevenix。 At this； I could scarce keep
from smiling； so unpalatable an interview must be before the pair
of them； and I could hear their voices； clashing like crossed
swords； in that eternal antiphony of 'I told you；' and 'I told you
not。' Without doubt； they had gained very little by their visit；
but then I had gained less than nothing； and had been bitterly
dispirited into the bargain。 Ronald had stuck to his guns and
refused me to the last。 It was no news； but； on the other hand； it
could not be contorted into good news。 I was now certain that
during my temporary absence in France； all irons would be put into
the fire； and the world turned upside down； to make Flora disown
the obtrusive Frenchman and accept Chevenix。 Without doubt she
would resist these instances： but the thought of them did not
please me； and I felt she should be warned and prepared for the
battle。
It was no use to try and see her now； but I promised myself early
that evening to return to Swanston。 In the meantime I had to make
all my preparations； and look the coming journey in the face。 Here
in Edinburgh I was within four miles of the sea； yet the business
of approaching random fishermen with my hat in the one hand and a
knife in the other； appeared so desperate； that I saw nothing for
it but to retrace my steps over the northern counties； and knock a
second time at the doors of Birchell Fenn。 To do this； money would
be necessary； and after leaving my paper in the hands of Flora I
had still a balance of about fifteen hundred pounds。 Or rather I
may say I had them and I had them not； for after my luncheon with
Mr。 Robbie I had placed the amount； all but thirty pounds of
change； in a bank in George Street； on a deposit receipt in the
name of Mr。 Rowley。 This I had designed to be my gift to him； in
case I must suddenly depart。 But now； thinking better of the
arrangement； I despatched my little man； cockade and all； to lift
the fifteen hundred。
He was not long gone； and returned with a flushed face； and the
deposit receipt still in his hand。
'No go； Mr。 Anne；' says he。
'How's that？' I inquired；
'Well； sir； I found the place all right； and no mistake；' said he。
'But I tell you what gave me a blue fright！ There was a customer
standing by the door； and I reckonised him！ Who do you think it
was； Mr。 Anne？ W'y； that same Red…Breast … him I had breakfast
with near Aylesbury。'
'You are sure you are not mistaken？ ' I asked。
'Certain sure；' he replied。 'Not Mr。 Lavender； I don't mean； sir；
I mean the other party。 〃Wot's he doing here？' says I。 It don't
look right。〃'
'Not by any means；' I agreed。
I walked to and fro in the apartment reflecting。 This particular
Bow Street runner might be here by accident； but it was to imagine
a singular play of coincidence that he； who had met Rowley and
spoken with him in the 'Green Dragon；' hard by Aylesbury； should be
now in Scotland； where he could have no legitimate business； and by
the doors of the bank where Rowley kept his account。
'Rowley；' said I； 'he didn't see you； did he？'
'Never a fear；' quoth Rowley。 'W'y Mr。 Anne； sir； if he 'ad； you
wouldn't have seen ME any more！ I ain't a hass； sir！'
'Well； my boy； you can put that receipt in your pocket。 You'll
have no more use for it till you're quite clear of me。 Don't lose
it； though； it's your share of the Christmas…box： fifteen hundred
pounds all for yourself。'
'Begging your pardon； Mr。 Anne； sir； but wot for！' said Rowley。
'To set up a public…house upon；' said I。
'If you'll excuse me； sir； I ain't got any call to set up a public…
house； sir；' he replied stoutly。 'And I tell you wot； sir； it
seems to me I'm reether young for the billet。 I'm your body
servant； Mr。 Anne； or else I'm nothink。'
'Well； Rowley；' I said； 'I'll tell you what it's for。 It's for the
good service you have done me； of which I don't care … and don't
dare … to speak。 It's for your loyalty and cheerfulness； my dear
boy。 I had meant it for you； but to tell you the truth； it's past
mendi