I was surprised I had not thought of this before.  Bellairs had been behind the scenes; he had known Dickson; he knew the flight of the crew; it was hardly possible but what he should suspect; it was certain if he suspected, that he would seek to trade on the suspicion.  And sure enough, I was not yet dressed the next morning ere the lawyer was knocking at my door.  I let him in, for I was curious; and he, after some ambiguous prolegomena, roundly proposed I should go shares with him.

“Shares in what?” I inquired.

“If you will allow me to clothe my idea in a somewhat vulgar form,” said he, “I might ask you, did you go to Midway for your health?”

“I don’t know that I did,” I replied.

“Similarly, Mr. Dodd, you may be sure I would never have taken the present step without influential grounds,” pursued the lawyer.  “Intrusion is foreign to my character.  But you and I, sir, are engaged on the same ends.  If we can continue to work the thing in company, I place at your disposal my knowledge of the law and a considerable practice in delicate negotiations similar to this.  Should you refuse to consent, you might find in me a formidable and”—­he hesitated—­“and to my own regret, perhaps a dangerous competitor.”

“Did you get this by heart?” I asked, genially.

“I advise YOU to!” he said, with a sudden sparkle of temper and menace, instantly gone, instantly succeeded by fresh cringing.  “I assure you, sir, I arrive in the character of a friend; and I believe you underestimate my information.  If I may instance an example, I am acquainted to the last dime with what you made (or rather lost), and I know you have since cashed a considerable draft on London.”

“What do you infer?” I asked.

“I know where that draft came from,” he cried, wincing back like one who has greatly dared, and instantly regrets the venture.

“So?” said I.

“You forget I was Mr. Dickson’s confidential agent,” he explained.  “You had his address, Mr. Dodd.  We were the only two that he communicated with in San Francisco.  You see my deductions are quite obvious:  you see how open and frank I deal with you, as I should wish to do with any gentleman with whom I was conjoined in business.  You see how much I know; and it can scarcely escape your strong common-sense, how much better it would be if I knew all.  You cannot hope to get rid of me at this time of day, I have my place in the affair, I cannot be shaken off; I am, if you will excuse a rather technical pleasantry, an encumbrance on the estate.  The actual harm I can do, I leave you to valuate for yourself.  But without going so far, Mr. Dodd, and without in any way inconveniencing myself, I could make things very uncomfortable.  For instance, Mr. Pinkerton’s liquidation.  You and I know, sir—­and you better than I—­on what a large fund you draw.  Is Mr. Pinkerton in the thing at all?  It was you only who knew the address, and you were concealing it.  Suppose I should communicate with Mr. Pinkerton——­”