I had another request for your hand, my dear, only this afternoon, from that scoundrel Frank Muller, of all men in the world," and his face darkened as he said the name.

"I sent him off with a flea in his ear, I can tell you.

Had I known then what I know now, I should have referred him to John.

There, there! He is a bad man, and a dangerous man, but let him be.

He is taking plenty of rope, and he will hang himself one of these days.