“There is money in it—if you carry out my wishes.”
“What are they?”
“Listen! This boy is possessed of papers—probably he carries them about with him—which properly belong to me. I have offered to buy them of him, but he refuses to let me have them.”
“Of what nature are they?”
“There is a letter, and also a memorandum signed by myself, and given to his father many years ago. The father died and the boy came into possession of them. Knowing that I wished them he holds them for a large—a foolishly large sum.”
“I comprehend. How much did you say you had offered him for them?”
“I did not mention the sum, Mr. Standish.”
“Oh, I thought you did,” returned Standish, rather confused.
“In fact, that has nothing to do with you.”