“But what the devil have I got to do with this?” The boy was thoroughly angry now.  The lift of Gadgem’s eyebrows did it.

“You rode the horse, sir.”  This came with a certain air of “Oh!  I have you now.”

“Yes, and he broke his leg and had to be shot,” burst out Harry in a tone that showed how worthless had been the bargain.

“EXactly, sir.  So your father told me, sir.  You don’t remember having paid Mr. Hampson for him beFORE he broke his leg, do you, sir?” He had him pinned fast now—­all he had to do was to watch his victim’s struggles.

“Me?  No, of course not!” Harry exploded.

“EXactly so, sir—­so your father told me.  FORcibly, sir—­and as if he was quite sure of it.”

Again he looked over Harry’s shoulder, following the list with his skinny finger.  At the same time he lowered his voice—­became even humble.  “Ah, there it is—­the English racing saddle and the pair of blankets, and the—­might I ask you, sir, whether you have among your papers any receipt for—?”

“But I don’t pay these bills—­I never pay any bills.”  Harry’s tone had now reached a higher pitch.

“EXactly so, sir—­just what your father said, sir, and with such vehemence that I moved toward the door.”  Out went the finger again, the insinuating voice keeping up.  “And then the five hundred dollars from Mr. Slater—­you see, sir, we had all these accounts placed in our hands with the expectation that your father would liquidate at one fell swoop—­these were Mr. Combes’s very words, sir:  ‘One fell swoop.’” This came with an inward rake of his hand, his fingers grasping an imaginary sickle, Harry’s accumulated debts being so many weeds in his way.

“And didn’t he?  He always has,” demanded the culprit.

“EXactly so, sir—­exactly what your father said.”

“Exactly what?”

“That he had heretofore always paid them.”

“Well, then, take them to him!” roared Harry, breaking loose again.  “I haven’t got anything to do with them, and won’t.”

“Your father’s PREcise words, sir,” purred Gadgem.  “And by the time he had uttered them, sir, I was out of the room.  It was here, sir, that the very polite colored man, Alec by name, so I am informed, and of whom I made mention a few moments ago, became of inVALuable assistance—­of very great assistance, sir.”

“You mean to tell me that you have seen my father—­handed him these bills, and that he has refused to pay them?” Harry roared on.

“I do, sir.”  Gadgem had straightened his withered body now and was boring into Harry’s eyes with all his might.

“Will you tell me just what he said?” The boy was still roaring, but the indignant tone was missing.

“He said—­you will not be offended, sir—­you mean, of course, sir, that you would like me to state exACTly what your father said, proceeding as if I was under oath.”  It is indescribable how soft and mellifluous his voice had now become.