"If you don't wish to live with me, well and good—after we have our money. You can take your share and I'll take mine—and that will be the end of it."
"And you will let me return to the Ruthven plantation, if I wish?"
"Yes. But not until everything is settled."
"And what must I do to help settle it?"
"You must sign a paper acknowledging me as your father, and must bear witness to the fact of your being wrecked on this shore, and that your mother is dead. We will have to get Old Ben for another witness."
"And after that?"
"After that I will take the next step."
"You will not tell me more now?"
"No. I don't know whether I can trust you or not."
"But why this secrecy, if everything is aboveboard?"