"On the contrary, ruined me."
I saw that the whole affair resolved itself into a question of money, and it was imperative for my friend's sake that the matter should be hushed up. I wondered how it was that his wife was enabled to live in such good style in his absence, but said nothing. It was no good studying delicacy with a man like that. I said—
"How much do you want? You must remember that my friend is a comparatively poor man."
"A thousand pounds," was the startling answer.
"Quite preposterous", I replied; "my friend is not in a position to pay anything like this sum, and if he took my advice he would keep his money in his pocket. He, at all events, acted in good faith."
"I have not said a word against Mr. Drummond, but he has mortally injured me. He can think over my proposition, but to-morrow at the same hour I must have a decided answer," Mr. Selby remarked. "There is the address of my hotel. You can tell him that to clear myself I may have to prosecute my wife for bigamy, and that I can take the case into the Divorce Court."
When I got back I told Drummond what had taken place. I thought he would have gone mad when he heard that there was no doubt about Mr. Selby's identity. My poor infatuated friend had good prospects, and for certain reasons, very serviceable now, his marriage was only known to a few people. The difficulty we had to encounter was how to get rid of the demands of the injured husband. There was not much time to deliberate, Selby took care of that, and when once the peculiar case got wind it would fly to all parts of the town. A certain amount of money must be paid I could see, and at length we agreed to offer five hundred pounds. But how to get the sum; Drummond had not five hundred pence. His journey to Paris, the expenses at Brompton, to say nothing of the innumerable rich presents he had given Mrs. Selby, had swallowed up all his ready money. I had relations to look after, and was at no time flush of cash. But by the aid of an all-potent bill stamp we solved the problem, and I wended my way next morning to the appointment with five one hundred pound notes in my pocket.
"Look here, Mr. Selby," I said when I got to his hotel, "let us understand each other. I have come on behalf of my friend to make you a first and last offer; if you accept, the money is ready; if you refuse, you may institute what proceedings you please."
"What is the proposal?"