"What do you mean?"
"I mean that the gold medal, brought to the Baron, intrusted by him to his old flame for a while, then hidden I don't know where, belongs to you. Raoul has no right to it. I'll buy it from you."
"At what price?"
"Any price you like—half the treasure, if you demand it."
Dorothy saw on the instant how she could make the most of the situation. Here again was a way of gaining some minutes, decisive minutes perhaps, a painful and costly way, since she risked handing over to him the key to the treasure. But dare she hesitate? D'Estreicher was nearly at the end of his patience. He was beside himself at the notion of the imminent attack with which he was threatened. Let him get carried away by an access of panic and all would be lost by his taking flight.
"A partnership between us? Never! A sharing of the treasure which would make me your ally? A thousand times, no! I detest you. But an agreement for a few moments? Perhaps."
"Your conditions?" he said. "Be quick! Make the most of my allowing you to impose conditions!"
"That won't take long. You have a double object—the medal and me. You must choose between them. Which do you want most?"
"The medal."
"If you let me go free, I'll give it to you."