feeling that his companion was dealing unfairly with him, and was
endeavoring in some way to trap him and lead him into a difficulty. But
he had made up his mind, as it were, not to know anything of Mountjoy
Scarborough, and to let those five minutes in the street be as though
they had never been. He had been brutally attacked, and had thought it
best to say nothing on the subject. He would not allow his secret, such
as it was, to be wormed out of him. Scarborough was endeavoring to
extort from him that which he had resolved to conceal; and he determined
at last that he would not become a puppet in his hands. "I don't see why
you should care a straw about it," said Scarborough.

"Nor do I."

"At any rate you repeat your denial. It will be well that I should let
my father know that he is mistaken, and also that ass Prodgers. Of
course, with my father it is sheer curiosity. Indeed, if he thought that
you were keeping Mountjoy under lock and key, he would only admire your
dexterity in so preserving him. Any bold line of action that was
contrary to the law recommends itself to his approbation. But Prodgers
has a lurking idea that he should like to arrest you."

"What for?"

"Simply because he thinks you know something that he doesn't know. As
he's a detective, that, in his mind, is quite enough for arresting any
man. I may as well give him my assurance, then, that he is mistaken."

"Why should your assurance go for more than mine? Give him nothing of
the kind."