The passage was dark, and so were the stairs up which Antonides led him.
“It’s done,” said the old man, pausing in the middle of the stairs and speaking backwards over his shoulder at Freyberger. “I have completed it.”
“I’m glad to hear that, but don’t stop; this staircase of yours is not cheerful.”
Antonides went up two more steps and stopped again.
“I think you said fifteen guineas, Mr Freyberger?”
“Pounds.”
“Guineas.”
“Pounds.”
“Mr Freyberger!”
“Go on—I don’t mean go on talking, go on up the stairs. I’m not going to give you a penny more than the fifteen pounds.”