“A very nice sum, indeed. Well, the other question I was going to ask is this: Will you make me a present of that sum?”
“Me make you a present of £5,000? Why, the man is mad.”
“Not quite; just the contrary,” said Jack, smiling.
“What do you mean?”
“Mean?” said Jack. “Listen; in a whisper, mind; would you rather swing on a gibbet, or give the sum I name?”
Phillip turned deadly pale, as he stuttered,
“What can you mean?”
“Oh, only this; we have been looking after that murder case of old Bertram, and if you give us that sum, why, we won’t find out the right party, that’s all. You understand?” said Captain Jack, with a knowing wink.
“Has it come to this?” said Phillip, after a pause, and, as he thought, unheard.
“Nothing shorter, my lad; it were a clever job, you know, and by mere accident we found out all about it.”