The Cotton Factory Times. — 1895-01-18 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

CHAPTER XXX. "YOU RATE GOT YOUR ANSWER."  It was none other than George Rayner that Theodore Hill saw walking rapidly away from him, through the mist of the September night. He was changed, greatly changed by his exile; and yet anyone who heard his load hearty laugh would have declared that he was not altered in the least. Lately he had consorted with lawless men, who would have taken his life readily for the sake of the few hundred dollars he carried about him, or by way of showing displeasure for a hasty expression. The necessity for being always on the alert, the habit of being prepared to defend himself at a moment's notice, had given to George Rayner's face and carriage an air of vigour and self-command— in one word,a manliness—which is too often absent in the face and manner of those who have always lived in countries where killing is held to be murder. _ . .  He had come from San Francisco by way of Hong Kong and Singapore, having left New York for the West very soon after his arrival in the States. Owing to his restless, wandering life he had never received the letters which had been sent to him. He was thus equally ignorant of his uncle's or Ins father's death, of his cousin's marriage, and of the Ashleigh-Smith's absence from England. He was tired of wandering, sick of his exile, and a new hope had sprung up in his breast; or rather an old one, which had seemed to be dead, had revived. He thought that Veronica might yet listen to him.  As for the danger, it seemed less now than it had done twelve months before. And he thought that by going to Lubinoff and striking a bargain with him, he might possibly avert the peril altogether. "After all," he thought to himself, "the risk is no greater than I have often had to run in America for nothing." The moment he arrived in London he set out for Lubinoffs house. He glanced at his watch; it was very late, yet he raised the knocker and knocked. The door was opened at once. " Can I see Mr. Lubinolf ?" he asked. "What name shall I say ?" "Oh "—be used the first name that came into his head—" Thompson." In a few seconds the servant returned to say that her master declined to see Mr. Thompson. . . . .  George stepped past her, turned to the right, and entered the room which he remembered so well. Lubinoff was there alone. He rose to his feet as his visitor entered.  " Labinoff, how are you ?" said George, holding out his hand. "You won't shake hands? All right. It's not you I want, chiefly, after all." "How dare you walk into my house without leave?"  " Because I wanted to talk to you. I gave the name of Thompson to the girl because I thought you might prefer not to see me. I see I was right." "Leave the room, sir." " Presently. Not just yet." "Shall I summon a constable, and give you in charge !" "It was just that I wanted to talk to you about. You'd better not. I was wrong to go away. I ought to have walked into the nearest police. station, and denounced the lot of you. I fancy my word would have been taken against that of youe men. I don't say 'yours,' for you are a gentleman." "What do you want?" "I want, in the first place, to know whether it is to be peace or war between us." " I shall do nothing against you," said Ivan, aftr a pause. "I gall not mention your being