Ken began to feel a rising anger against this fat hypocrite who was so obviously enjoying his power.
“All right, I admit all that,” he said curtly. “Suppose we get to the point. What do you intend to do about it?”
Sweeting lifted his fat shoulders.
“That depends entirely on you, Mr. Holland.”
“It’s blackmail, is that it?”
Sweeting smiled.
“Some people might call it that,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s a nasty word. I would prefer to say that in return for keeping my information to myself you will give me a small pecuniary reward.”
“What do you want?”
Sweeting couldn’t conceal his satisfaction. The interview was going along splendidly: exactly how he had planned it to go.
“I am a poor man, Mr. Holland. In fact, to be frank with you, I am in urgent need of funds right now. I thought you might let me have two hundred dollars as a first payment and a small sum each month.”