“I suppose Herbert will return by evening,” he replied.  “You can see him if you remain till then.”

Another expression of satisfaction appeared upon the faces of his two visitors, but for this he was prepared.

“Sorry we can’t stay till then,” said Warner, “but business of importance will limit our stay.  Eh, Brown?”

“I don’t see the use of delaying at all!” growled Brown, who was not as partial as his companion to the feline amusement of playing with his intended victim.  With him, on the contrary, it was a word, and a blow, and sometimes the blow came first.

“Come to business!” continued Brown, impatiently, addressing his associate.

“That is my purpose, friend Brown.”

“Mr. Melville, it is not solely the pleasure of seeing you that has led my friend and myself to call this afternoon.”

Melville nodded.

“So I supposed,” he said.

“There is a little unfinished business between us, as you will remember.  I owe you a return for the manner in which you saw fit to throw suspicion upon me some time since, when we were traveling together.”

“I shall be very glad to have you convince me that I did you an injustice,” said Melville.  “I was led to believe that you and your friend now present were leagued together to rob us of our money and valuables.  If it was not so—­”

“You were not very far from right, Mr. Melville.  Still it was not polite to express your suspicions so rudely.  Besides, you were instrumental in defeating our plan.”

“I can’t express any regret for that, Col.  Warner, or Jerry Lane, as I suppose that is your real name.”

“I am Jerry Lane!” said Warner, proudly.  “I may as well confess it, since it is well that you should know with whom you have to deal.  When I say that I am Jerry Lane, you will understand that I mean business.”

“I do,” answered Melville, quietly.

“You know me by reputation?” said the outlaw, with a curious pride in his unenviable notoriety.

“I do.”

“What do men say of me?”

“That you are at the head of a gang of reckless assassins and outlaws, and that you have been implicated in scores of robberies and atrocities.”

This was not so satisfactory.

“Young man,” said Lane—­to drop his false name—­“I advise you to be careful how you talk.  It may be the worse for you.  Now, to come to business, how much money have you in the house?”

“Why do you ask, and by what right?”

“We propose to take it.  Now answer my question.”

“Gentlemen, you will be very poorly paid for the trouble you have taken in visiting me.  I have very little money.”

“Of course, you say so.  We want an answer.”

“As well as I can remember I have between forty and fifty dollars in my pocketbook.”

Brown uttered an oath under his breath, and Lane looked uneasy.