"I intend to have my husband set free to enjoy his own. Since you have kidnapped him, you shall confess and suffer--for five thousand pounds."
"Leavin' you out, ma'am?"
"Oh, I had nothing to do with it, nor had my poor husband. You and Dr. Demetrius are the rascals."
"Huh! An' what'll y' pay the Doc.?"
"Nothing," she said serenely: "the Russian Government is paying him."
"Whew!" Strange whistled with a stare; "they've got him at las'."
"If you mean the Russian authorities, yes."
"Poor chap! He wasn't bad fur a foreiner. I kind o' froze on t' him somehow. But this catchy-catchy biznai ain't none o' mine, so let him slide." He shook his head vigorously. "Slide it is. An' this noo game o' yours, ma'am?"
Bending forward, until her mouth was almost at his right ear, she explained a very pretty scheme, which would oust Lionel and restore Jim's birthright, without inculpating her.
Strange listened calmly, and nodded heavy approval at intervals. All the time admiration deepened in his hard eyes, but this did not prevent him bargaining. "Yes," said he, balancing his hat carefully. "It kin be done. Six thousand, ain't it!"