'I don't know about a good chance. Some chance, shall we say?' He was more than tolerant; he was interested in Peggy's development of her idea.
Peggy leant her elbows on the writing-table between them.
'I want her to be rid of the whole thing—to think it never happened. I want you to take those shares from her: tell her that they've become of value, or that you made a mistake, or anything you like of that sort, and that you'll relieve her of them. If you did that, how much money should you want?'
'You wish this done out of kindness? To take a weight off Mrs. Trevalla's mind?'
'Yes, to take a weight off her mind. It's funny, but she frets more over having bungled her money affairs and having been made—having been silly, you know—than over anything else. She's very proud, you see.'
Fricker's smile broadened. 'I can quite believe she's proud,' he remarked.
'Of course she knows nothing about my being here. It's my own idea. You see what I want, don't you?'
'As a business transaction, I confess I don't quite see it. If you appeal to my good-nature, and ask me to make sacrifices for Mrs. Trevalla——'
'No. I don't expect you to lose by it.'
Fricker saw the look that she could not keep out of her eyes. He smiled fixedly at her.