"A half-dozen times," said Nathaniel. "They won't do."
"My people object to the same name so often," said Amos. "They are very strict. And when they object the rate goes up."
Stroude writhed at this, and Sparhawk asked:
"How high?"
The money-lender, who still had Stroude's paper in his hand, folded it one third.
"Oh, no," said Sparhawk. "Oh, dear, no!"
"There are, besides, interests, costs, and other things," said Amos in his honeyed way. "It is too bad. Maybe your friend had better go somewhere else."
"They may treat him better," suggested Nathaniel with disbelief.
Stroude's blue nose paled.
"But a charge like that!" protested he. "It's monstrous!"