"Do you still wish me to go?" inquired Gerald politely, and half opening the door.  
"No," cried Rebb sharply. "Shut that door again and explain yourself."
 
Haskins returned to his seat. "Does what I say need explanation?"
 
"Certainly. You that my income has to do with Mavis."
 
"You place the matter in a nutshell, Major. It has."
 
Rebb rose again, with the look of a man at bay. "You dare to----"
 
"I dare anything in the cause of Mavis," interrupted Gerald imperiously. "Don't make any mistake about my attitude, Major Rebb. If you act honestly, I am here as your friend; but if you declare war I am willing to accept your challenge."
 
If a look could have the bold speaker, Haskins would have dropped dead where he stood; but he bore Rebb's fierce gaze without , and waited for him to speak. The Major made a gigantic effort, and gained control of himself to open his mouth for a quiet question. "Where did you learn this?" he demanded.
 
"From the will of Captain Julian Durham at Somerset House."
 
"Indeed! More spying!" the other, but his lip quivered.
 
Haskins his shoulders, and took scarcely any notice of the insult. "That is a weak speech to make," he remarked.
 
Rebb passed a handkerchief across his pale lips. "Who told you about the will?" he asked quietly.
 
"It was more an intuition than anything else," said Haskins, anxious to shield Mrs. Geary, whose chance words had put him on the track. "I saw that Mavis was , and that you were shutting her up for some reason. Money was the reason that suggested itself."
 
"And you searched in Somerset House?"
 
"Not personally. Macandrew did that, as my lawyer."
 
"Great heavens!" stormed Rebb, growing darkly red, "is Macandrew in this affair also? Will you tell me, Mr. Haskins, how many people you have succeeded in interesting in my private business?"
 
"Only Tod and myself know about the matter so far--I refer to the will, of course. But others may come to know of it, unless----"
 
"Ah," said Rebb quickly, "now we are coming to the of the matter, Mr. Haskins. Unless what?"
 
"Unless you give Mavis her proper position in the world----"
 
"And consent to your marriage with her, I suppose?"
 
Haskins bowed. "You save me the trouble of an explanation."
 
"There is another explanation to be made," said Rebb, trying to appear calm, "and one that in justice to myself I must make. The will----"
 
"Pardon me," interrupted Gerald coolly, "but Mrs. Jennings knows all about your ward's ."
 
"Her true insanity," cried Rebb warmly, "everyone in Denleigh and Silbury and Leegarth knows about the poor girl, and that she is watched by Bellaria Dondi."
 
"Your useful, elderly relative. Just so. And does all the neighborhood know about Julian Durham's will?"
 
"Anyone who goes to Somerset House can learn what he wishes, as you have done," retorted the Major. "I am not bound to make my private affairs public down here. You are trying to do your best to provide gossip for the neighborhood."
 
"Well, yes. I mean to get Mavis out of the Pixy's House."
 
Rebb jumped up and banged on the table furiously. "I defy you. Yes, I defy you," he almost shouted, "and you shall not get her out of that house. She is well treated, and----"
 
"One moment. I never said that she was not well treated," said Gerald swiftly, "but, badly as you are behaving, I presume your conscience does not allow you to ill-treat Mavis, seeing that you are enjoying her fortune."
 
"Take care! Take care! I may strike you."
 
"By all means. It will give me the chance to take you into court for assault and make the matter of the Pixy's House public."
 
"Ah," Rebb looked scathingly at the bold speaker, "you are afraid."
 
"Oh no. If you strike me, I shall probably give you a good thrashing, which, to my mind, you richly deserve. In an ordinary case I would thrash you and let you go: but my desire is to force you into taking up a public position of defence."
 
"I am quite willing to do so," said Rebb violently, "you can employ Macandrew or any lawyer you like. The will is in my favor, and I have carried out its provisions."
 
"Pardon me, but that is just what you have not done. Mavis, by the will, was to be educated. She can neither read nor write."
 
"The doctor said----"
 
"Produce your doctor who said that her brain could not understand, or could not bear teaching. It is no use, Major. Whatever you may say about Mavis, to suit your own ends, you are well aware that she is sane, and that you are keeping her shut up in the Pixy's House to enjoy her money."
 
"You dare--you dare----"
 
"I dare now, and I shall dare in open court," retorted the young man.
 
"I wonder I don't kill you," muttered Rebb, in impotent fury.
 
"In the first place you can't; in the second, if you did you would only be tried for murder instead of ."
 
"Conspiracy? Conspiracy, damn you?"
 
"Yes, against the liberty of a subject."
 
Rebb had proved himself to be a brave man in several South African engagements, so it was not fear that prevented him from falling upon the man who thus defied him and with his most private affairs. But with all his fury--and he could scarcely articulate for rage--he was sufficiently master of himself to know that to strike Haskins would only force him into open court. Rebb had no wish that the will of Durham and his of Mavis should be a topic of conversation with his friends, or appear in print for the delectation of the public. He therefore kept his hands down by his sides, and his , as best he could. But the effort nearly choked him.
 
"You have said all that you can say, Mr. Haskins," he , in a guttural voice filled with menace, "so you can go."
 
"Certainly," rejoined Gerald again. "And your attitude?"
 
"I stand by the will of my brother officer," said Rebb, with suppressed fury, "I enjoy the Durham property until Mavis marries. She is not fit to marry, being insane, therefore----"
 
"You will enjoy the Durham property until the end of your life."
 
"Yes!" said Rebb , "I do hold to that. Mavis has all she wants and is happy where she is."
 
"Because you have filled her mind with lying tales of English girls all being brought up in as she is being brought up. But on Mavis' twenty-first birthday, Rebb, when she hopes to come out into the world? What then? How will you restrain her? Will she be happy then?"
 
"I am not bound to tell you of my plans regarding my ward," said the Major stiffly, "on her twenty-first birthday I shall know how to act."
 
"Good-night!" said Gerald , and made for the door.
 
"Stop," cried Rebb . "What about your attitude?"
 
Haskins wheeled at the door. "I love Mavis, and I intend to make her my wife. That is my attitude."
 
"I see," sneered the Major; "you are after her money."
 
The insult was too to be noticed. "Think what you like, Major, only remember one thing. If you harm Mavis in any way, or transfer her to another hiding-place, I shall hold you accountable."
 
"In what way?" questioned the other contemptuously.
 
"I shall find some relative of Mavis, and get him or her to contest the will. That will bring everything out."
 
"Very probably, but Mavis has no relative. Julian Durham was the last of his race, and so, since his wife was dead, left his child for me to look after. Had he or she any relative I should not have been appointed . I stand by the will. Good-night."
 
Gerald hesitated, and wondered whether he would say anything more, but on second thoughts he to hold his peace, and abruptly left the room. After all, there was no more to be arranged. He knew the attitude which Rebb had taken up, and Rebb knew his attitude. It only remained to fight for possession of the girl.
 
As Haskins walked back to Silbury, in the rapidly darkness, he admitted that Rebb's position was a strong one. Mavis was perfectly happy, and had all she wanted. The loss of liberty did not trouble her, since she had the grounds of the Pixy's House for a playground, and, moreover, thought that all English girls were brought up in the same way. Had she known that this was a lie she might have after liberty, and then there would have been some ground to go upon. But were she taken into court she could not deny but that her guardian had been kind, and had given her all she required. This reasoning was all in favor of Rebb.
 
Then again, ............