"And get nothing in return?" asked Peter in surprise. "No paper—no receipt——?"
"No—just this once, Nichols. It will keep him quiet for a month or so. In the meanwhile——" The old man paused, a crafty look in his eyes, "In the meanwhile we'll have time to devise a way to meet this situation."
"Meaning—precisely what?" asked Peter keenly.
McGuire scowled at him and then turned away toward the window.
"That needn't be your affair."
"It won't be," said Peter quickly. "I'd like you to remember that I came here as a forester and superintendent. I agreed also to guard your house and yourself from intrusion, but if it comes to the point of——"
"There, there, Nichols," croaked McGuire, "don't fly off the handle. We'll just cross this bridge first. I—I won't ask you to do anything a—a gentleman shouldn't."
"Oh, well, sir," said Peter finally, "that's fair enough."
McGuire came over and faced Peter, his watery eyes seeking Peter's.
"You'll swear, Nichols, to say nothing of this to any one?"