"That is possible, scamp. However, listen to me."
"I can see from your familiarity that the job will be an expensive one; well, I do not dislike that way of entering upon the subject, for it forebodes a good business."
The senator shrugged his shoulders with ill-disguised contempt. "Enough of this," he said, "let us come to facts."
"I ask nothing better."
"Are you fond of money?"
"I certainly have a weakness for gold."
"Good. Would you hesitate about killing a man to earn it?"
"What do you mean?"
"I ask you, scoundrel, whether in a case of necessity you would kill a man for money?"
"I perfectly understood you."