"Then why did you come here?"
"To ask you if you consider it honorable to threaten me. I have already done so. There is no more to be said on my part."
Derrington dug a pen viciously into the blotting-pad. He did not know very well what to say. Had George sworn and blustered he might have been able to talk him down and to bully him into giving way. But Brendon was perfectly calm and polite. He was not to be intimidated in any way, and the ordinary methods would not do in this case. Derrington was reduced to reason. "What is it you wish?"
"I wish you to recognize my mother's marriage and to state that I am your heir."
"Anything else?" sneered Derrington.
"Yes. You will publicly recognize me; you will allow me an income sufficient to maintain the dignity of my real name of George Vane, and you will order Mrs. Ward to keep silent."
"Mrs. Ward? What have I to do with her?"
"A great deal, apparently. You told her my story, and as she does not want me to marry her daughter she will move heaven and earth to ruin me by using her knowledge."
"How can she ruin you?"
"I think you understand, sir. The story told by my friend Train----"