“The time for discussing the thing is over,” he said. “I will go—and—do as you wish. The only thing to put straight is the price down.”
“What do you mean by the price down?”
“I want money.”
“Of course, you shall have it.”
“I want more than my expenses, and something to cover the loss to my business which my absence may create.”
“How much more?” Lord Grayleigh looked at him anxiously.
“Ten thousand pounds in cash now, to be placed to my credit in my bank.”
“Ten thousand pounds in cash! That is a big order.”
“Not too big for what you require me to do. You make hundreds of thousands by me eventually; what is one ten thousand? It will relieve my mind and set a certain matter straight. The fact is—I will confide in you so far—my own pecuniary affairs are anything but flourishing. I have had some calls to meet. What little property I own is settled on my wife. You know that a man cannot interfere with his marriage settlements. I have one child. I want to make a special provision for her.”