"Had a claim on you? How do you mean?"
"He'll have that—if he pays for everything—pays for everything for years and years back. Don't you see?"
"A claim on you for what, pray?"
"That's what I don't know. But whatever it is, I shall feel that I'm in his debt."
"Nonsense, dear. I call that morbid. It is morbid."
"But don't you think it's what he's working for? I can't see anything else that—that could tempt him; and the minute we make a bargain with him we agree to his terms."
There was a long silence before he said, wearily:
"If we call the deal off we must do it with our eyes open to the consequences. Ashley would almost certainly throw you over—"
"No; because that possibility couldn't arise."
"And you'll have to be prepared for the disgrace—"