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 "You young fool! Do you think I don't know that?" asked Banger, "I think so, and I thought so, Mr. Jennison! Scape-graces that you both are—"

"And he is Mr. 'Hilliard,' or 'Mr. John Belmont,' too; and he has tried to steal Gerald Saxton from his father, and from me—and—"

"You are crazy," interrupted Mr. Banger, coolly, "Mr. Winthrop, I guess we'd better—"

"I guess you'd better not be so sure you know him, nor be so ready to think I am a cheat," Philip continued, impetuously. "That man has been a forger and a blackmailer. He leads a regular double life that you don't know any thing about. Give me time, Mr. Banger! Please wait! I promise you—I give you my solemn word of honor—I can prove every thing I say. If you refuse to listen you will surely be sorry."

Mr. Banger looked angrily from Touchtone to Jennison.

"The boy has lost his senses because his trick's burst up," he said, in an undertone. Then to Philip: "Be silent, sir! Follow me, both of you, to the house this minute! The