Bulmer came to dinner, ate and drank and smoked in quiet amity until David's laboring muse conveyed his niece's latest "kind love an' good wishes," and then---- "Tell you wot," said Dickey, "there's another five thousand due to-morrow on the surveyor's report." "There is," said Verity, knowing that his guest and prospective partner alluded to the new steamer in course of construction on the Clyde.
"Well, it won't be paid." David lifted his glass of port to hide his face.

Was this the first rumbling of the tempest?
Though expected hourly, he was not prepared for it.

His hand trembled.

He dared not put the wine to his lips.
"Wot's up now ?" he asked.
"You're playin' some underhand game on me, David, an' I won't stand it," was the unhesitating reply.

"You're lyin' about Iris.