Colford goes out again.

St Erth.  Did Kentman ever give the police the numbers of those notes, Winsor?

Winsor.  He only had the numbers of two—­the hundred, and one of the fifties.

St Erth.  And they haven’t traced ’em?

Winsor.  Not yet.

     As he speaks, de Levis comes in.  He is in a highly-coloured, not to
     say excited state.  Colford follows him.

De Levis.  Well, General Canynge!  It’s a little too strong all this—­ a little too strong. [Under emotion his voice is slightly more exotic].

Canynge. [Calmly] It is obvious, Mr De Levis, that you and Captain Dancy can’t both remain members of this Club.  We ask you for an explanation before requesting one resignation or the other.

De Levis.  You’ve let me down.

Canynge.  What!

De Levis.  Well, I shall tell people that you and Lord St Erth backed me up for one Club, and asked me to resign from another.

Canynge.  It’s a matter of indifference to me, sir, what you tell people.

St Erth. [Drily] You seem a venomous young man.

De Levis.  I’ll tell you what seems to me venomous, my lord—­chasing a man like a pack of hounds because he isn’t your breed.

Canynge.  You appear to have your breed on the brain, sir.  Nobody else does, so far as I know.

De Levis.  Suppose I had robbed Dancy, would you chase him out for complaining of it?

Colford.  My God!  If you repeat that—­

Canynge.  Steady, Colford!

Winsor.  You make this accusation that Dancy stole your money in my house on no proof—­no proof; and you expect Dancy’s friends to treat you as if you were a gentleman!  That’s too strong, if you like!

De Levis.  No proof?  Bentman told me at Newmarket yesterday that Dancy did know of the sale.  He told Goole, and Goole says that he himself spoke of it to Dancy.

Winsor.  Well—­if he did?

De Levis.  Dancy told you he didn’t know of it in General Canynge’s presence, and mine. [To Canynge] You can’t deny that, if you want to.

Canynge.  Choose your expressions more nicely, please!

De Levis.  Proof!  Did they find any footmarks in the grounds below that torn creeper?  Not a sign!  You saw how he can jump; he won ten pounds from me that same evening betting on what he knew was a certainty.  That’s your Dancy—­a common sharper!

Canynge. [Nodding towards the billiard-room] Are those fellows still in there, Colford?

Colford.  Yes.

Canynge.  Then bring Dancy up, will you?  But don’t say anything to him.