“No, sir.”
“Then look here, my man; this is a painful family scandal, and I don’t want it to go any farther, for the sake of those who are suffering. I’ll make it two hundred.”
“No, sir; no.”
“Then two hundred and fifty; all clean money, Parkins.”
“Dirty money, sir, you mean,” said the sergeant quietly. “Look here, Mr Luke Vine, you are, as you say, a quiet country gentleman, so I won’t be angry with you. You’ll give me five hundred pounds to stop this business and let your nephew get right away?”
Uncle Luke drew a long breath.
“Five hundred!” he muttered. “Well, it will come out of what I meant to leave him, and I suppose he’ll be very glad to give it to escape.”
“Do you understand me, sir? You’ll give me five hundred pounds to stop this search?”
Uncle Luke drew another long breath.
“You’re a dreadful scoundrel, Parkins, and too much for me; but yes, you shall have the money.”