RUGGE.--"Oh, don't you? No more do I. But I am a Briton, and I have the
spirit of one. You had better not make an enemy of me."

WAIFE.--"I am above the necessity of making enemies. I have an enemy
ready made in myself."

Rugge placed a strong bony hand upon the cripple's arm. "I dare say you
have! A bad conscience, sir. How would you like your past life looked
into, and blabbed out?"

GENTLEMAN WAIFE (mournfully).--"The last four years of it have been spent
in your service, Mr. Rugge. If their record had been blabbed out for my
benefit, there would not have been a dry eye in the house."

RUGGE. "I disdain your sneer. When a scorpion nursed at my bosom sneers
at me, I leave it to its own reflections. But I don't speak of the years
in which that scorpion has been enjoying a salary and smoking canaster at
my expense. I refer to an earlier dodge in its checkered existence. Ha,
sir, you wince! I suspect I can find out something about you which
would--"

WAIFE (fiercely).--"Would what?"

RUGGE.--"Oh, lower your tone, sir; no bullying me. I suspect! I have
good reason for suspicion; and if you sneak off in this way, and cheat me
out of my property in Juliet Araminta, I will leave no stone unturned to
prove what I suspect: look to it, slight man! Come, I don't wish to
quarrel; make it up, and" (drawing out his pocket-book) "if you want cash
down, and will have an engagement in black and white for three years for