“Worse and worse!  How can you have the face to come here, Mr. Denton, and tell me that?”

“I don’t think it needs any face, squire.  It’s an honest debt.”

“You deliberately entrapped my son, and lured him into your saloon, where he met low companions, and squandered his money and time in drinking and low amusements.”

“Come, squire, you’re a little too fast.  Billiards ain’t low.  Did you ever see Schaefer and Vignaux play?”

“No, sir; I take no interest in the game.  In coming here you have simply wasted your time.  You will get no money from me.”

“Then you won’t pay your son’s debt?” asked Tony Denton.

“No.”

Instead of rising to go, Tony Denton kept his seat.  He regarded Squire Duncan attentively.

“I am sorry, sir,” said Prince Duncan, impatiently.  “I shall have to cut short this interview.”

“I will detain you only five minutes, sir.  Have you ascertained who robbed the bank?”

“I have no time for gossip.  No, sir.”

“I suppose you would welcome any information on the subject?”

Duncan looked at his visitor now with sharp attention.

“Do you know anything about it?” he asked.

“Well, perhaps I do.”

“Were you implicated in it?” was the next question.

Tony Denton smiled a peculiar smile.

“No, I wasn’t,” he answered.  “If I had been, I don’t think I should have called upon you about the matter.  But—­I think I know who robbed the bank.”

“Who, then?” demanded the squire, with an uneasy look.

Tony Denton rose from his chair, advanced to the door, which was a little ajar, and closed it.  Then he resumed.

“One night late—­it was after midnight—­I was taking a walk, having just closed my saloon, when it happened that my steps led by the bank.  It was dark—­not a soul probably in the village was awake save myself, when I saw the door of the bank open and a muffled figure came out with a tin box under his arm.  I came closer, yet unobserved, and peered at the person.  I recognized him.”

“You recognized him?” repeated the squire, mechanically, his face pale and drawn.

“Yes; do you want to know who it was?”

Prince Duncan stared at him, but did not utter a word.

“It was you, the president of the bank!” continued Denton.

“Nonsense, man!” said Duncan, trying to regain his self-control.

“It is not nonsense.  I can swear to it.”

“I mean that it is nonsense about the robbery.  I visited the bank to withdraw a box of my own.”

“Of course you can make that statement before the court?” said Tony Denton, coolly.

“But—­but—­you won’t think of mentioning this circumstance?” muttered the squire.

“Will you pay Randolph’s bill?”

“Yes—­yes; I’ll draw a check at once.”

“So far, so good; but it isn’t far enough.  I want more.”