"Then go and tell it."
"You're in a terrible hurry, Mister Peacocke. I don't want to drop in and spoil your little game. You're making money of your little game. I can help you as to carrying on your little game, better than you do at present. I don't want to blow upon you. But as you're making money out of it, I'd like to make a little too. I am precious hard up,—I am."
"You will make no money of me," said the other.
"A little will go a long way with me; and remember, I have got tidings now which are worth paying for."
"What tidings?"
"If they're worth paying for, it's not likely that you are going to get them for nothing."
"Look here, Colonel Lefroy; whatever you may have to say about me will certainly not be prevented by my paying you money. Though you might be able to ruin me to-morrow I would not give you a dollar to save myself."
"But her," said Lefroy, pointing as it were up-stairs, with his thumb over his shoulder.
"Nor her," said Peacocke.
"You don't care very much about her, then?"