Wickersham’s face whitened, and he could not repress the look of mingled astonishment and fear that stole into his eyes.

“Now, having given you that information,” continued Keith, “I say that you stole Mrs. Wentworth’s money, and I have come to recover it, if possible.”

Wickersham rose to his feet.  With a furious oath he sprang for his overcoat, and, snatching it up, began to feel for the pocket.

“I’ll blow your brains out.”

“No, you will not,” said Keith, “and I advise you to make less noise.  An officer is outside, and I have but to whistle to place you where nothing will help you.  A warrant is out for your arrest, and I have the proof to convict you.”

Wickersham, with his coat still held in one hand, and the other in the pocket, shot a glance at Keith.  He was daunted by his coolness.

“You must think you hold a strong hand,” he said.  “But I have known them to fail.”

Keith bowed.

“No doubt.  This one will not fail.  I have taken pains that it shall not, and I have other cards which I have not shown you.  Sit down and listen to me, and you shall judge for yourself.”

With a muttered oath, Wickersham walked back to his seat; but before he did so, he slipped quietly into his pocket a pistol which he took from his overcoat.

Quickly as the act was done, Keith saw it.

“Don’t you think you had better put your pistol back?” he said quietly.  “An officer is waiting just outside that door, a man that can neither be bullied nor bought.  Perhaps, you will agree with me when I tell you that, though called Dimm, his real name is David Dennison.  He has orders at the least disturbance to place you under arrest.  Judge for yourself what chance you will have.”

“What do you wish me to do?” asked Wickersham, sullenly.

“I wish you, first, to execute some papers which will secure to Norman Wentworth, as far as can possibly be done, the amount of money that you have gotten from Mrs. Wentworth under the pretence of investing it for her in mines.  Mrs. Wentworth’s name will not be mentioned in this instrument.  The money was her husband’s, and you knew it, and you knew it was impairing his estate to furnish it.  Secondly, I require that you shall leave the country to-morrow morning.  I have arranged for passage for you, on a steamer sailing before sunrise.”

“Thank you,” sneered Wickersham.  “Really, you are very kind.”

“Thirdly, you will sign a paper which contains only a few of the facts, but enough, perhaps, to prevent your returning to this country for some years to come.”

Wickersham leant across the table and burst out laughing.

“And you really think I will do that?  How old do you think I am?  Why did you not bring me a milk-bottle and a rattle?  You do my intellect a great deal of honor.”

For answer Keith tapped twice on a glass with the back of a knife.  The next second the door opened, and Dave Dennison entered, impassive, but calmly observant, and with a face set like rock.