Purvis's eyes dropped.
"Oh, don't be downcast, my dear fellow," said Leicester mockingly. "I gave you liberty to tell them, and you took advantage of my permission. And you told her all the rest, too. Oh, I know you well enough for that, and on the whole I'm glad. But mind," and he rose to his feet like a man in anger, "if you let on about the rest——"
"You mean the wager?"
"Call it what you like—if you or Sprague let on about that, then, to quote your Bible, it were better that a millstone were hanged about your neck, and you were cast into the depths of the sea."
Purvis shrank before the savage gleam of the man's eye.
"You—you surely don't mean that—that you are going on with—with this business?"
"Yes, I am," replied Leicester. His voice was quiet, but he spoke like a man in anger. "I am going on, and—and—if you do not play the game—well, you know me, Purvis."
"Of course a promise is a promise," said Purvis; "all the same——"
"Go to bed, my son," said Leicester mockingly. "I think you'll be all right now."
If Purvis had remained he would have been almost frightened at the look which came into Leicester's eyes.