“How large a wager?” asked Gideon.
Mr. Liversedge waved one hand in an airy gesture. “Oh, against such odds, sir, I daresay you would venture as much as fifty thousand pounds!”
Gideon shook his head. “I never bet so far above my fortune, Mr. Liversedge. Now, had you offered me a wager that I should not be Duke of Sale within a month—!”
Mr. Liversedge considered his resources rapidly. “Well, I daresay it could be contrived,” he said dubiously.
Gideon very nearly laughed in his face. He overcame the impulse, and said: “You know, I am not such a gamester as you believe, sir. Such wild bets hold little attraction for me. You will own that you would find it hard to raise such a sum, as you would be obliged to do if his Grace should not depart this life within the month.”
“Sir,” said Mr. Liversedge earnestly, “if I entered upon a bet of that magnitude it would only be in the certainty that his Grace would depart this life within the month!”
“How could you have that certainty?” smiled Gideon.
Mr. Liversedge drew a breath. “Captain Ware,” he said. “I am not an unreasonable man. I do not waste your time with frivolous suggestions. More, sir! I do not ignore the peculiar delicacy of your position. Indeed, being myself a man of great sensibility, I have given much thought to your position. Naturally you could not contemplate, in any little arrangement between us, the smallest suggestion of—er—”
“Blood-money,” supplied Gideon.
Mr. Liversedge looked pained. “That, sir, is an ugly phrase, and one which is as repugnant to me as it must be to you. All I offer you is a handsome wager. I am sure there are many seemingly more improbable betsentered in the book at White’s. Not, of course, that this one would be entered there. A simple exchange of notes between us, sir, is all that would be necessary. And here let me assure you that I regard that as a mere formality, customary in affairs of such a nature. My faith in you as a man of honour, Captain Ware, makes it impossible for me to contemplate the necessity of producing your note at some future date.”