Ben mounted the steps and took a chair opposite the Englishman.
"If you will excuse me," he said, "I would rather not go into details. The fact's enough--I am still here. Besides--pardon me--I did not call to be questioned, but to question. You remember the last time I saw you?"
Scotty nodded an affirmative. He had a premonition that the unexpected was about to happen.
Ben lit a cigar. "You remember, then, that you made me a certain promise?"
Scotty threw one leg over the other restlessly. "Yes, I remember," he repeated.
The visitor eyed him keenly. "I would like to know if you kept it," he said.
Scotty felt the seat of his chair growing even more uncomfortable than before, and he cast about for an avenue of escape. One presented itself.
"Is that what you stayed to find out?" he questioned in his turn.
Ben blew out a cloud of smoke, and then another.
"No, not the main reason. But that has nothing to do with the subject. I have a right to ask the question. Did you or did you not keep your promise?"
The Englishman's first impulse was to refuse point-blank to answer; then, on second thought, he decided that such a course would be unwise. The other really did have a right to ask.
But interrupting, Ben raised his hand, palm outward.
Scotty hesitated again, and his face grew red.
The visitor's hand, fingers outspread, returned to his knee.
"Thank you. I have one more question to ask. Do you intend, without trying to prevent it, to let your daughter throw away her every chance of future happiness? Are you, Florence's father, going to let her marry Sidwell?"
With one motion Scotty was on his feet. The eyes behind the thick lenses fairly flashed.
"You are insulting, sir," he blazed. "I can stand much from you, Ben Blair, but this interference in my family affairs I cannot overlook. I request you to leave my premises!"
Blair did not stir. His face remained as impassive as before.
"Your pardon again," he said steadily, "but I refuse. I did not come to quarrel with you, and I won't; but we will have an understanding--now. Sit down, please."
The Englishman stared, almost with open mouth. Had any one told him he would be coerced in this way within his own home he would have called that person mad; nevertheless, the first flash of anger over, he said no more.