“So my father thought, but Mr. Wentworth only offered him a thousand dollars, which, poor as he was, he indignantly refused. I don’t think he would have offered anything, if he had not known that my father had letters proving that he was innocent, and Wentworth himself the forger.”
“Who has these papers now?”
“I have.”
“And you say Mr. Wentworth has offered a thousand dollars for them?”
“He made me that offer this very morning.”
“And you declined to accept it?”
“Yes.”
“Gerald, the man seems to be unscrupulous. If he finds he cannot obtain the papers in any other way he may plot to have them stolen from you.”
“I don’t know but you are right, Mr. Brooke,” said Gerald thoughtfully.
“Shall I advise you?”