"If they don't secure the information, nevertheless you won't get the treasure. To be quite plain with you, our plan, in the event of the contingency I have outlined, would be to give you an opportunity to get to the treasure before calling in the Government."
"Yes, that would be the way to do it," said Hugh, nodding impersonally. "What's your proposition?"
"Seventy-five per cent. to us, twenty-five per cent. to you."
Hugh laughed.
"I thought you wanted to talk business," he jeered.
Hélène tossed away her cigarette.
"You're playing it too fine, Montey," she remarked. "Will you talk on a fifty-fifty basis, Lord Chesby?"
Hugh turned to her.
"I don't know," he said frankly. "I want to think it over. I'll admit that by calling in the Turkish Government, you could stall me—and yourselves. But how can I trust you? What guarantees can you give us?"
"No guarantees we could give you would be binding," she answered with an insolent smile. "What's more, we don't have to give guarantees. We hold the whip-hand. You've no alternative but to trust us. As to thinking it over—" she flung a glance at Hilyer, who nodded—"come back to-morrow. We'll give you that long."