Demetrius
Hermann, with insinuating face, but arm upraised as if in
threatening.
"Scoundrel!" burst forth Jock. Both turned, and his mother's look of
relief and joy met him as he sprang to her side, exclaiming, "What
does this mean? How dare you?"
"No, no!" she cried breathlessly, clinging to his arm. "He did not
mean-—it was only a gesture!"
"I'll have no such gestures to my mother."
"Sir, the honoured lady only does me justice. I meant nothing
violent. Zat is for you English military, whose veapon is zie horse-
vhip."
"As you will soon feel," said Jock, "if you attempt to bully my
mother. What does it mean, mother dear?"
"He made a mistake," she said, in a quick, tremulous tone, showing
how much she was shaken. "He thinks me a quack doctor's widow,
whose secret is matter of bargain and sale."
"Madame! I offered most honourable terms."
"Terms, indeed! I told you the affair is no empirical secret to be
bought."
"Yet madame knows that I am in possession of a portion of zie
discovery, and that it is in my power to pursue it further, though,
for family considerations, I offer her to take me into confidence, so
that all may profit in unison," said the Greek, in his blandest
manner.
"The very word profit shows your utter want of appreciation," said
Mrs.
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