"That's what I said."
"Do you mean"—his voice dropped to an incredulous whisper—"that you are threatening to betray Augusta to attain your end?"
"I don't like to be thwarted for a whim—a senseless piece of sentiment. This contract means too much to me."
"But do I understand aright?" She gloated as she saw his fading color. "Do you intend to say that the price of your silence is this contract?"
"Something of the sort," she replied in cold stubbornness.
The full knowledge of her power swept over him; the helplessness of his position filled him with sudden fury. He sprang to his feet and hurled his cigar through the open window. His thick fingers twitched to choke the insolent smile from her face.
"You traitor! You blackmailer!"
She arose leisurely.
"Unpleasant words—but there are others as unpleasant."
With his hands thrust deep in his trousers pockets Symes faced her, eyeing her with an expression which would have made most women wince but which she returned with absolute composure. She was in control of the situation and realized it to the full. Symes was speechless nearly in the face of such effrontery, such disloyalty, such ingratitude.