"There was no need," Lord Jura asserted. "I have forgotten nothing. You can tell your side of the story to the judge at the next assizes--and I'll tell mine."
Mr. Jobling's puffy face blanched at that, but Captain Dove did not even change countenance.
"So much for yourself," said he patiently. "You think you can best whiten your own record by trying to blacken mine. I'll say no more about that--except that it isn't always true that dead men tell no tales. And you'll have to tell the judge at the next assizes the real reason why you ran away from home."
He was watching the other's face narrowly, to see what effect that stray shot might have, and was clearly encouraged at seeing Lord Jura wince.
"But there's another point to be settled," he went on with slow insistence, "before we go any further. I've brought you back to your own, as I said, and, more than that, I've brought you back--your sister. I wouldn't have made any song-an'-dance about such a small matter either, but--since it's to be debit and credit between us, I'd like to know how you think that affects the account.
"You say you've forgotten nothing. Have you remembered that I've brought her up, so to speak, since she was knee-high to me? Have you ever thought where she'd be to-day if I hadn't--But, of course, you don't know where I came across _her_. And I'm not going to tell you just now. All I _will_ say is that it rests absolutely in my hands whether--whether she stays safe here with you or--You may believe me or not, as you like, but--Better talk it over with her before you go any further,--my lord!"
He frowned, as if warningly, at Sallie, and turned on his heel and, swaggering back to the table, grotesquely aggressive, sat down again with his back to them all, leaving them to make whatever they liked of his veiled threat and half-spoken hints as to his mysterious power over her. Slyne followed him. But Mr. Jobling pushed forward again, eager to establish himself on a safer footing of service to the other side.
"If your lordship will allow me," said he, his head on one side, shoulders bent and hands clasped, "I think I can undertake to arrange matters for you with Captain Dove. Some small money payment, perhaps, would save further unpleasantness--for her ladyship as well. We can scarcely contest his claim for at least the amount of--"