You need fear nothing further, sir; I stake my professional reputation on it." The gloom of the stranger seemed only to increase as the Colonel reached his triumphant conclusion.
"I reckoned you'd say that," he said slowly, "but it won't do.

I shall go on paying as far as I can.

It's my trouble and I'll see it through." "But, my dear sir, consider," gasped the Colonel.

"You are in the hands of an infamous harpy, who is using her son's blood to extract money from you.

You have already paid a dozen times more than the life of that d----d sneak was worth; and more than that--the longer you keep on paying you are helping to give color to their claim and estopping your own defense.