“How much are you authorized to give me for them?” asked Gerald demurely.
“Your freedom. Give them to me and you shall be released at the end of an hour.”
“Why not at once?”
“Because you might be tempted to hand me over to the police, though you could not prove anything against me. Still it might be inconvenient.”
“Do you expect me to give you without compensation what I have been offered a thousand dollars for?”
“Yes, under the circumstances.”
“Suppose I refuse to give them up?”
“Then you will be imprisoned here for an indefinite period.”
“I don’t believe it. I would raise an alarm, and some one would be sure to hear it and interfere in my behalf.”