"I don't see why I shouldn't--you always thought me bad, so why should I give the lie to your estimate of my character by proving myself good?--come, choose--the letter, or the exposure!"
Patience looked at him in despair, as she knew by her fatal admission she was in his power--so, with a sudden gesture of anger, she held the letter out to him.
"Take it."
Beaumont laughed softly, and took the letter daintily between his thumb and forefinger.
"I thought you'd have known," he said sneeringly. "Now get me a light."
"To do what?"
"Melt the wax--I want to see what's inside this envelope."
"But you mustn't do that--it's sealed with the Garsworth Arms--the lawyers won't pay the cheque if they find the seal has been tampered with."
"I can re-seal it with the Garsworth Arms," he replied coolly, "don't be alarmed. I know what I'm about."
She looked at him irresolutely, then apparently recognizing the futility of resistance, she lighted a candle and brought it to him.