Maitrank muttered. "Perhaps not. Also you would not have robbed me of the best part of £100,000. Charming swindler, where is my money?"
"Most courteous of Shylocks, it is all spent. I am going to be frank with you, which is very virtuous on my part, seeing that you have found me out. That San Salvator property is worth exactly nothing. Also it is mortgaged in four places. But for a bit of pure bad luck I should have got more out of you for it."
"Ay, ay," Maitrank showed his yellow fangs in a grin, "that is true. Go on."
"You have found me out and I must pay you. It is no question of honour, I am bound to do so to save my face. But meanwhile I must find another victim."
"Meanwhile you will do nothing of the sort," said the usurer. "I am not going to wait. Give me half and I will hold the sword suspended for a fortnight. Give me those diamonds, and I will write a receipt for £30,000."
A little flush of colour crept into Leona Lalage's cheek.
"They are worth half as much again," she cried. "You are a coward to take advantage of your position like that, and with a woman too."
Maitrank grinned again, in no way abashed.
"I never want another woman like you to deal with," he said. "I prefer a man, however great a scoundrel he may be. But you would have robbed me; I have turned the tables on you. And I am going to squeeze you. Give me those diamonds, take a receipt for the sum I mentioned, and I wait a fortnight."
"And if I refuse your offer?" said Leona between her teeth.