"I am afraid you will have to forego both those pleasures," said Aldean, grimly. "Your vanity must, in this instance, be sacrificed to your safety. I will trouble you to hand over those circular notes."
"They are at my hotel," said Boldini, rising with alacrity. "Shall I go for them?"
"Oh, pray don't trouble. Miss Trall can go for the notes."
Clara looked at Boldini, and Boldini looked at Clara.
Aldean made a shrewd guess that the man was attempting a trick to gain time, for every now and then his hand wandered mechanically to his breast pocket. It was probable that the notes were there. Jim expected a fight for the spoil; but Clara laid down her arms without a murmur, and instructed Boldini to do the same.
"Give him the notes," said she, curtly.
One by one they were counted and laid on the table before Aldean. Boldini winced as if he were having a tooth drawn. Olive counted them and found them correct. There were twenty notes of the value of one thousand pounds each--printed in francs on the Crédit Lyonnais paper.
"Good," said Aldean, with a nod. "Now for your cheque-book."
"I won't! I won't!" cried Boldini, childishly. "The rest of the money is mine."
"We need not argue that question over again," said Olive, coldly. "Write a cheque in my name for thirty thousand pounds--that is, seven hundred and fifty thousand francs. If not, Lord Aldean shall call up the police."