"Pray what do you mean by 'but'?" demanded Barnabas.
"That the sum is—inadequate, sir."
"Twenty-two thousand pounds is not enough then?"
"It is—not enough, Mr. Beverley."
"Then, if you will tell me the precise amount, I will make up the deficiency." But, here again, Jasper Gaunt smiled his slow smile and shook his head.
"That, I grieve to say, is quite impossible, Mr. Beverley."
"Why?"
"Because I make it a rule never to divulge my clients' affairs to a third party; and, sir,—I never break my rules."
"Then—you refuse to tell me?"
"It is—quite impossible."