“Ah! now I understand.”  Algernon raised his head with a strain at haughtiness.  “If Mr. Samuels had accompanied you, I would have discharged the debt:  It’s only fair that I should insist upon having a receipt from him personally, and for the whole amount.”

With this, he drew forth his purse and displayed the notable Five hundred.

His glow of victory was short.  The impassive man likewise had something to exhibit.

“I assure you, sir,” he said, “Mr. Samuels does know how to deal with gentlemen.  If you will do me the honour, sir, to run up with me to Mr. Samuels’ shop?  Or, very well, sir; to save you that annoyance here is his receipt to the bill.”

Algernon mechanically crumpled up his note.

“Samuels?” ejaculated the unhappy fellow.  “Why, my mother dealt with Samuels.  My aunt dealt with Samuels.  All my family have dealt with him for years; and he talks of proceeding against me, because—­upon my soul, it’s too absurd!  Sending a policeman, too!  I’ll tell you what—­the exposure would damage Mister Samuels most materially.  Of course, my father would have to settle the matter; but Mister—­Mister Samuels would not recover so easily.  He’d be glad to refund the five hundred—­what is it?—­and twenty-five—­why not, ‘and sixpence three farthings?’ I tell you, I shall let my father pay.  Mr. Samuels had better serve me with a common writ.  I tell you, I’m not going to denude myself of money altogether.  I haven’t examined the bill.  Leave it here.  You can tear off the receipt.  Leave it here.”

The man indulged in a slight demonstration of dissent.

“No, sir, that won’t do.”

“Half the bill,” roared Algernon; “half the bill, I wouldn’t mind paying.”

“About two-thirds, sir, is what Mr. Samuels asked for, and he’ll stop, and go on as before.”

“He’ll stop and he’ll go on, will he?  Mr. Samuels is amazingly like one of his own watches,” Algernon sneered vehemently.  “Well,” he pursued, in fancied security, “I’ll pay two-thirds.”

“Three hundred, sir.”

“Ay, three hundred.  Tell him to send a receipt for the three hundred, and he shall have it.  As to my entering his shop again, that I shall have to think over.”

“That’s what gentlemen in Mr. Samuels’ position have to run risk of, sir,” said the man.

Algernon, more in astonishment than trepidation, observed him feeling at his breast-pocket.  The action resulted in an exhibition of a second bill, with a legal receipt attached to it, for three hundred pounds.

“Mr. Samuels is anxious to accommodate you in every way, sir.  It isn’t the full sum he wants; it’s a portion.  He thought you might prefer to discharge a portion.”

After this exhibition of foresight on the part of the jeweller, there was no more fight in Algernon beyond a strenuous “Faugh!” of uttermost disgust.

He examined the bill and receipt in the man’s hand with great apparent scrupulousness; not, in reality, seeing a clear syllable.