“That’s what you said before,” retorted Collaton, his eyebrows and lashes even more invisible in this illumination than in broad day-light.  “It’s time, though, for a showdown.  You drag me into dark corners and talk over schemes to throw the hooks into Johnny Gamble--and I tell you I’m afraid of him!”

“You’re mistaken,” asserted Gresham dryly.  “It was I who told you that you were afraid of him.”

“I admitted it all right,” sulkily answered Collaton.  “He’s awake now, I tell you; and he’s not a safe man to fool with.  He turned our last trick against us, and that’s enough hint for me.”

“Your trick, you mean,” corrected Gresham.

“Our trick, I said!” insisted Collaton, suddenly angry.  “Look here, Gresham, I won’t stand any monkey business from you!  If there’s ever any trouble comes out of this you’ll get your share of it, and don’t you forget it!  You’ve had me lay attachments against the Gamble-Collaton Irrigation Company on forged notes.  Since I had nothing, Johnny paid them, because he was square.  The last attachment, though—­for fifty thousand—­he held off until I got that Slosher Apartment scheme in my own name, and turned it against me; and you had to pay it, because you had stood good for me.”

“What difference does that make to you?” demanded Gresham.  “It was my own money and I got it back.”

“It makes just this much difference,” explained Collaton:  “Gamble and Loring are busy tracing all these transactions; and when they find out anything it will be fastened on me, for you never figure in the deals.  You even try to avoid acknowledging to me that you have anything to do with them.”

“You get all the money,” Gresham reminded him.

“That’s why I know you’re framing it up to let me wear the iron bracelets if anything comes off.  Now you play square with me or I’ll hand you a jolt that you won’t forget!  There’s a girl responsible for your crazy desire to put my old partner on the toboggan—­and that was the girl.  You see I happen to know all about it.”

Gresham considered the matter in silence for some time, and Collaton let him think without interruption.  They sat down now at one of the little tables and Collaton curtly ordered some drinks.

“It’s al very simple matter,” Gresham finally stated.  “My father was to have married Miss Joy’s aunt but did not.  When the aunt came to die she left Miss Joy a million dollars, but coupled with it the provision that she must marry me.  That’s all.”

“It’s enough,” laughed Collaton.  “I understand now why Johnny Gamble wants to make a million dollars.  As soon as he gets it he’ll propose to Miss Joy, she’ll accept him and let the million slide.  Who gets it?”

“Charity.”

“Why, Gresham, I’m ashamed of you!” Collaton mocked.  “The descendant of a noble English house is making as sordid an affair of this as if he were a cheese dealer!  I have the gift of second sight and I can tell you just what’s going to happen.  Johnny Gamble will make his million dollars—­and I’m for him.  He’ll marry Miss Joy—­and I’m for her.  That other million will go to charity—­and I’m for it.  I hope they all win!”