quid, and I kept them up religiously until the sixth payment fell due.
That was soon after Christmas, when one's always hard up, and for the
first time I was a day or two late--not more, mind you; yet what do you
suppose happened? My cheque was returned, and the whole blessed balance
demanded on the nail!"

Raffles was following intently, with that complete concentration which
was a signal force in his equipment. His face no longer changed at
anything he heard; it was as strenuously attentive as that of any judge
upon the bench. Never had I clearer vision of the man he might have been
but for the kink in his nature which had made him what he was.

"The promissory note was for four-fifty-six," said he, "and this sudden
demand was for the lot less the hundred you had paid?"

"That's it."

"What did you do?" I asked, not to seem behind Raffles in my grasp
of the case.

"Told them to take my instalment or go to blazes for the rest!"

"And they?"

"Absolutely drop the whole thing until this very week, and then come down
on me for--what do you suppose?"

"Getting on for a thousand," said Raffles after a moment's thought.

"Nonsense!" I cried. Garland looked astonished too.