“No, sir, no! You are my uncle, and, if I may say so, my ideal and my model.”
“You flatter me, my good Vereker. But if you think you can flatter me out of a thousand pounds, you mistake your man. I will give you no money.”
“Of course, sir, if you can’t—”
“I did not say I can’t. I say I won’t.”
“If you can, sir, I think you will.”
Sir Charles smiled, and flicked his sleeve with his lace handkerchief.
“I find you vastly entertaining,” said he. “Pray continue your conversation. Why do you think that I will give you so large a sum of money?”
“The reason that I think so,” continued the younger man, “is that I can do you a service which will seem to you worth a thousand pounds.”
Sir Charles raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“Is this blackmail?” he inquired.