King of the Castle Part 45

He had no fear of his ultimate success, for he had seen enough of Gartram to know that his will was law, and that, even if Claude were thoroughly opposed to the match, she would be obliged to consent.

But he could not conceal from himself the fact that it might be a long time first, press it on how he might; and till then he would be the abject slave of the man in whose clutches he had placed himself.

He had not seen the boat leave the sh.o.r.e, where his men had gone to obtain stores, and, taking advantage of its being at the harbour, Gellow had stepped in, had himself rowed on board, and, walking along the deck giving the little crew a supercilious look, he had gone down to where Glyddyr was seated, and addressed him.

"What do you want?" was the reply, delivered in a surly voice.

"What do I want? Why, as the little ragged boy said in _Punch_, 'heverythink.' In my case, specially money."

Glyddyr made an impatient movement.

"Oh, it's a fact, dear boy. Times have not been rosy lately, and I've got low in the banking account. So, as my dear old friend Glyddyr has had his little slice of luck, I said I'd run down and tap him."

"What do you mean--what slice of luck?"

"The wind that blows no one any good, dear boy; but the ill wind must have blown you a lot of good."

"What do you mean?"

"What did you put on her?"

"Nothing."

"What?"

"I said nothing."

"Oh, yes. You said so, and you didn't mean it."

"I tell you I did not back the horse."

"But I sent you the last tip--one worth a hundred thousand pounds. I was thinking of sending it to the Marquis, but he's a mean cuss, and I knew you'd stump up handsome afterwards to the man who helped you.

Come--between friends, you know--what did you land?"

"I tell you I did not back the horse."

"Get along with you! None of your games. Come along, old fellow, let's have it. What did you pocket?"

"Nothing."

"Glyddyr, my dear boy, don't say that you didn't get the telegram in time."

"No; I got it in time."

"Oh, come, that's right; and you did back it. Get out with your talking like that. You gave me a cold chill all down my back."

"Hang it, man, how many more times am I to speak? I tell you I did not back the horse."

"What! You let such a chance go by? You actually fooled away money like that!"

"I don't know what you mean by fooled away money."

"Why, it is fooling away money to let such a chance as that go by you."

"How was I to know it was a good chance?" cried Glyddyr savagely.

"Why, didn't I send it to you?"

"Yes; and how many times have you sent me tips which have turned out frauds, and I've lost my money?"

"Well, but n.o.body can be sure, that's a certainty."

"No! Yours never were."

"Oh, but this is absurd. No. I see through your game. You're gammoning me. You did work it all right."

"Hark, here," cried Glyddyr; "if you wish me to kick you out of my cabin, say that again."

Gellow blew out his cheeks, and quickly sucked them in. Then he threw his right leg over his left, and then he threw his left over his right, balanced his ivory-handled crutch-stick, and ended by bringing the end down upon the cabin floor in the attempt.

"Oh, very well," he said coldly, and the man's manner completely changed. "I won't brave you to kick me out of my own cabin, Mr Glyddyr. You see I could just sign a paper or two, and then I could kick you out."

"What!"

"Without lifting my foot, sir. I've always been a gentleman to you, Mr Glyddyr, and you've always been a bully to me. I wanted to be friends, and I've helped you with money till I've pinched myself, and I've helped you to throw your wife off the scent."

"She is not my wife."

"I don't know anything about that. Out of politeness one is bound to believe a lady, and she says she is your wife, sir."

"It is false."

"Ah, well, that's nothing to me, sir. That's your own affair. Settle it between you. Why, I consider that I've put two fortunes in your way, sir. You've kicked over one; what are you going to do with the other?"

Glyddyr scowled at him.

"Oh, I beg your pardon, Mr Glyddyr. Like my confounded impudence to ask. I'm off back to town. No message for Madame Denise, I suppose?"

"No."

"Very good, very good, sir. Good day."

"Good day," said Glyddyr shortly, and his visitor walked to the door of the tiny saloon, set his hat jauntily on one side, and then turned and came back, and rested his hands upon the back of the nearest seat.

"Oh, by the way, Mr Glyddyr, I think I did hint that I was rather short of the ready. Be good enough to write me a cheque for a thou, on account."

Glyddyr winced.