“No, but I’m willing to give it.”
“Very good—it is yours. There is a charming little cottage just by the church that I could get for six hundred. It would suit me exactly.”
Thoyne frowned heavily and spoke as if choosing his words with some care.
“I should attach to my offer a condition—that you leave Cartordale—and do not return. For that I would make it five thousand.”
“Ah, now we really are getting to the straight talk,” I said smilingly. “Suppose we make it absolutely straight. You want to get me out of Cartordale—why?”
Thoyne sat silent for the space of fully two minutes.
“Straight talk doesn’t seem so easy as you thought—is that it?” I asked. “But you owe me some explanation surely.”
“The talk is straight enough,” Thoyne responded half sullenly. “I want to get you out of Cartordale—yes, that is true, and I have told you so frankly enough. What do my reasons matter? I am willing to pay.”
“Yes, it’s plain enough,” I returned. “I will be equally straight. I decline to go. Did Miss Kitty Clevedon send you here?”
“What has she to do with it—or you with her?” he demanded angrily.