'That's it. And she's in debt besides. But it's the shares that are killing her. That's where the bitterness is, Airey.'
'Does she know you're telling me this?'
'I gave her my word that I'd never tell.'
Airey moved restlessly about the room. 'Well?' he said from the other end of it.
'She could get over everything but that. So I went to Mr. Fricker——'
'You went to Fricker?' He came to a stand in amazement.
'Yes, I went to Mr. Fricker to see if he would consent to tell her that she wasn't liable, that the shares had turned out better, and that she needn't pay. I wanted him to take the shares from her, and let her think that he did it as a matter of business.'
Airey Newton pointed to the little bag. Peggy nodded her head in assent.
'But it's not nearly enough. She'd have to pay three thousand anyhow; he won't do what I wish for less than four. He doesn't want to do it at all; he wants to have her on her knees, to go on knowing she's suffering. And she will go on suffering unless we make her believe what I want her to. He thought I couldn't get anything like the money he asked, so he consented to take it if I did. He told me to come back when I had got it, Airey.'
'Has she got the money?'