”Imean，didthesuggestionstrikeyouunpleasantly，orhow？””Idon’tthinkitmadeanyimpression，Sir。Iknewitwasajoke。””Ajoke！”groanedhisfather。”GoodHeavens！Whatdoyouthink——？””Oncemorepermitme，”saidMr。Raequietly，withawaveofhishandtowardtheCaptain。”Thischequeoffivepoundshasevidentlybeenalteredtofiftypounds。Thequestionis，bywhom，Mr。Allan？Canyouanswerthat？”AgainMr。Rae’seyesweresearchingtheyoungman’sface。”IhavetoldyouIremembernothingaboutthischeque。””Isitpossible，Mr。Allan，thatyoucouldhaveraisedthischequeyourselfwithoutyourknowing——？””Oh，nonsense！”saidhisfatherhotly，”whymaketheboylie？”
Hissonstartedasifhisfatherhadstruckhim。”Itellyouoncemore，Mr。Rae，andItellyouall，Iknownothingaboutthischeque，andthatismylastword。”Andfromthatpositionnothingcouldmovehim。”Well，”saidMr。Rae，closingtheinterview，”wehavedoneourbest。Thelawmusttakeitscourse。””GreatHeavens！”criedtheCaptain，springingtohisfeet。”Doyoumeantotellme，Allan，thatyoupersistinthiscursedfollyandwillgiveusnofurtherlight？Haveyounoregardformyname，ifnotforyourown？”Hegraspedhissonfiercelybythearm。
Buthissonangrilyshookoffhisgrasp。”You，”hesaid，lookinghisfatherfullintheface，”youcondemnedmebeforeyouheardawordfromme，andnowformynameorforyoursIcarenotatinker’scurse。”Andwiththisheflunghimselffromtheroom。”Followhim，”saidMr。RaetoDunn，quietly；”hewillneedyou。
Andkeephiminsight；itisimportant。””Allright，Sir！”saidDunn。”I’llstaywithhim。”Andhedid。
CHAPTERIV