George’s expression said he wasn’t exaggerating. He looked absolutely furious. And he was a big man. He might well be able to do considerable “bloodying” even if Vincent defended himself. Of course, Vincent’s guilt wouldn’t let him defend himself, but neither would a beating help him to get rid of it, so he would prefer discourse to violence.

“I am here to offer apologies and an explanation, though the latter is more for my benefit than yours.”

“An apology when you think me guilty? Or have you found out that I’m not the villain you took me for?”

“I set out to ruin you. An eye for a eye. I make no excuses for that, other than I really did think you indirectly responsible in contributing to my brother’s death. But you were correct that I was lax in not verifying the facts. I have since learned the truth.”

“Not from me, you didn’t,” George said bitterly. “You refused to believe me.”

“Would you have taken the word of a stranger over that of your brother?”

“If I had such a weak-kneed brother, I just might,” George said.

It was the contempt in the tone, rather than the actual words, that caused Vincent to flush with embarrassment. “He was weak, yes, but he wasn’t known to lie. However, he was also foxed when he wrote his parting letter, doesn’t even recall much of what he said in it, and to give him his due, he didn’t suspect that I might mistake his intentions and seek revenge on his behalf.”

“Doesn’t recall? Are you saying he didn’t kill himself after all?”

“I have only just received another letter from him, a sober one this time. He has settled in America. He now takes all blame onto himself for his failure here.”

“Which leaves you having pursued vengeance against an innocent party.”

“Given the information I had, in my mind, it wasn’t fair that you would escape without any consequences at all, when you had set out to ruin a competitor and had succeeded, perhaps more than you had planned, but succeeded nonetheless. But my original information was wrong, so yes, I have myself become the villain in this whole debacle, due to my mistaken beliefs. For this I do humbly apologize and will make amends as you see fit. I begin with these.”

“What is this?” George asked skeptically, accepting the packet of documents.

“The deed to your home, in your name, all debt satisfied. The address is also there, where your furnishings are stored. I have also set about correcting the rumors about your financial straits. Your presence again in England confirms the falseness of the original rumors. If you have any further difficulty over this matter—”

“I will see to it myself.”