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t； unbeknown to Skinner； a young woman with white eyelashes； sewing buttons on Mr。 Hardie's shirts。 That astute gentleman gave her instructions； and important ones too； with a silent gesture； then reappeared and filled the bumper high to his faithful servant。 They drank one another's healths with great cordiality； real or apparent。 Mr。 Hardie then asked Skinner carelessly； if he could do anything for him。 Skinner said； 〃Well； sir； I am very poor。〃
〃So am I； between you and me；〃 said Mr。 Hardie confidentially； 〃I don't mind telling you； those confounded Commissioners of Lunacy wrote to Alfred's trustees； and I have been forced to replace a loan of five thousand pounds。 That Board always sides with the insane。 That crippled me； and drove me to the Exchange： and now what I had left is all invested in time…bargains。 A month settles my fate： a little fortune； or absolute beggary。〃
〃You'll be lucky； sir； you'll be lucky；〃 said Skinner cheerfully； 〃you have such a long head； not like poor little me； the Exchange soon burnt my wings。 Not a shilling left of the thousand pounds； sir； you were so good as to give me for my faithful services。 But you will give me another chance； sir； I know； I'll take better care this time。〃 Mr。 Hardie shook his head sorrowfully； and said it was impossible。 Skinner eyed him askant； and remarked quietly； and half aside； 〃Of course； I _could_ go to the other party： but I shouldn't like to do that。 They would come down handsome。〃
〃What other party？〃
〃La； sir； what other party？ Why Mrs。 Dodd's； or Mr。 Alfred's； here's the trial coming on； you know； and of course if they could get me to go on the box and tell all I know； or half what I know； why the judge and jury would say locking Mr。 Alfred up for mad was a conspiracy。〃
Mr。 Hardie quaked internally： but he hid it grandly； and once more was a Spartan gnawed beneath his robe by this little fox。 〃What；〃 said he sternly； 〃after all I and mine have done for you and yours； would you be so base as to go and sell yourself to my enemies？〃
〃Never； sir；〃 shouted Skinner zealously： then in a whisper； 〃Not if you'll make a bid for me。〃
〃How much do you demand？〃
〃Only another thousand； sir？〃
〃A thousand pounds！〃
〃Why； what is that to you； sir？ you are rich enough to buy the eighth commandment out of the tables of ten per cent。： and then the lawsuit； Hardies _versus_ Hardies！〃
〃You have spoken plainly at last；〃 said Mr。 Hardie grimly。 〃This is extorting money by threats。 Do you know that nothing is more criminal； nor more easy to punish？ I can take you before a magistrate； and imprison you on the instant for this attempt。 I will； too。〃
〃Try it；〃 said Skinner coolly。 〃Where's your witness？〃
〃Behind that screen。〃
Peggy came forward directly with a pen in her hand。 Skinner was manifestly startled and disconcerted。 〃I have taken all your words down； Mr。 Skinner；〃 said Peggy softly； then to her master； 〃Shall I go for a policeman； sir？〃
Mr。 Hardie reflected。 〃Yes；〃 said he sternly： 〃there's no other course with such a lump of treachery and ingratitude as this。〃
Peggy whipped on her bonnet。
〃What a hurry you are in；〃 whined Skinner： 〃a policeman ought to be the last argument for old friends to run to。〃 Then； fawning spitefully； 〃Don't talk of indicting me； sir；〃 said he； 〃it makes me shiver： why how will you look when I up and tell them all how Captain Dodd was took with apoplexy in our office； and how you nailed fourteen thousand pounds off his senseless body； and forgot to put them down in your balance…sheet； so they are not whitewashed off like the rest。〃
〃Any witnesses to all this； Skinner？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Who？〃
〃Well； your own conscience _for one；_〃 said Skinner。
〃He is mad； Peggy；〃 said Mr。 Hardie； shrugging his shoulders。 He then looked Skinner full in the face； and said； 〃Nobody was ever seized with apoplexy in my office。 Nobody ever gave me L。 14；000。 And if this is the probable tale with which you come here to break the law and extort money； leave my house this instant： and if ever you dare to utter this absurd and malicious slander； you shall lie within four stone walls； and learn what it is for a shabby vagabond to come without a witness to his back； and libel a man of property and honour。〃
Skinner let him run on in this loud triumphant strain till he had quite done； then put out a brown skinny finger； and poked him lightly in the ribs； and said quite quietly； and oh； so drily； with a knowing wink
〃I'vegotThe Receipt。〃
CHAPTER LI
MR。 HARDIE collapsed as if he had been a man inflated； and that touch had punctured him。 〃Ah！〃 said he。 〃Ah！〃 said Skinner； in a mighty different tone： insolent triumph to wit。
After a pause； Mr。 Hardie made an effort and said contemptuously； 〃The receipt （if any） was flung into the dusthole and carried away。 Do you think I have forgotten that？〃
〃Don't you believe it； sir；〃 was the reply。 〃While you turned your back and sacked the money； I said to myself； 'Oho； is that the game？' and nailed the receipt。 What a couple of scoundrels we were！ I wouldn't have her know it for all your money。 Come； sir； I see its all right； you will shell out sooner than be posted。〃
Here Peggy interposed； 〃Mr。 Skinner； be more considerate； my master is really poor just now。〃
〃That is no reason why I should be insulted and indicted and trampled under foot；〃 snarled Skinner all in one breath。
〃Show me the receipt and take my last shilling； you ungrateful； vindictive viper；〃 groaned Mr。 Hardie。
〃Stuff and nonsense； said Skinner。 〃I'm not a viper； I'm a man of business。 Find me five hundred pounds； and I'll show you the receipt and keep dark。 But I can't afford to give it you for that； of course。〃
Skinner triumphed； and made the great man apologise； writhing all the time； and wishing he was a day labourer with Peggy to wife； and fourteen honest shillings a week for his income。 Having eaten humble pie； he agreed to meet Skinner next Wednesday at midnight； alone； under a certain lamp on the North Kensington Road： the interval （four days） he required to raise money upon his scrip。 Skinner bowed himself out； fawning triumphantly。 Mr。 Hardie stood in the middle of the room motionless； scowling darkly。 Peggy looked at him； and saw some dark and sinister resolve forming in his mind： she divined it； as such women can divine。 She laid her hand on his arm； and said softly； 〃Richard； it's not worth _that。_〃 He started to find his soul read through his body so clearly。 He trembled。
But it was only for a moment。 〃His blood be on his own head；〃 he snarled。 〃This is not my seeking。 He shall learn what it is to drive Richard Hardie to despair。〃
〃No； no；〃 implored Peggy； 〃there are other countries beside this： why not gather all you have； and cross the water？ I'll follow you to the world's end； Richard。〃
〃Mind your own business；〃 said he fiercely。
She made no reply； but went softly and sat down again； and sewed the buttons on his shirts。 Mr。 Hardie wrote to Messrs。 Heathfield to get Hardie _v。_ Hardie tried as soon as possible。
Meantime came a mental phenomenon： gliding down Sackville Street； victorious Skinner suddenly stopped； and clenched his hands； and his face writhed as