“Oh, isn’t there? I thought that perhaps you had hit it off with Mrs. Hurd-Babbington. She has had her eyes upon the Lynne millions for a long time, and the gentleman you mentioned a moment ago, Mr. Nicholas Carter by name, has told me that she won’t lose sight of them. I suppose I could buy you both off with a million apiece, eh?�
“I want two. I don’t know anything about any woman.�
“You want two millions, do you? What would you do with them if you had them?� Lynne pulled himself still farther up in the bed as he asked the question.
“I’ll tell you one thing that I would do,� was the eager reply, for he evidently believed that Lynne was weakening, and might, after all, give up. “I’d get out of your sight and mind, and stay out of them.�
“Would a check satisfy you, if I should get out of this bed and write one now?�
“No, it would not. I’m not such a fool as all that.�
“Well, you don’t suppose that I am in the habit of taking two million dollars, in cash, to bed with me, do you?�
“No, but I do know one thing about you, Lynne.�
“Do you, really? What is that interesting thing that you do know about me?�
“I know you to be a man of your word. If you should give me your solemn promise that you would put two millions in cash in my hand to-morrow or next day, and give me fourteen days’ start without attempting to follow, or to find out where I had gone, you’d keep your word to the letter. I know that.�