Opening it, Nick read:
“My Dear Carter: Very shortly after receiving this you will have a call from Mr. Alpheus Cary. He is my first victim in New York. I should judge by this experience that New York is very easy to work. The incident afforded me a good deal of amusement, for Mr. Alpheus Cary hates to give up.
“He was in a panic when he did, but regretted it a minute after. Indeed, my operation came perilously near robbery, for his hesitancy began before he really handed the money over.
“The only regret I have is that the sum was so small. In that sense it was not a brilliant beginning in New York. But you can complete the operation by getting a stiff retainer out of him. Then, if you choose to “whack up,” why, you can send me half. That proposition is the reason why I write.
“Really, Carter, there is quite a stroke of business to be done by us in this way. I know you pose as an honest man, but, pshaw! let there be no nonsense between us.
“The Brown Robin.”
The first sensation Nick experienced on reading this letter was that of anger. Then the audacity of the writer excited his sense of humor.
“You thought the other letter was impertinent,” said he, handing the last one to Edith, “but what do you think of this one?”
Edith read it with flushed face, but, inspired by an idea, she said:
“Nick, if I were you I would capture that person, no matter what I did to accomplish it.”
“What would you do?”
“I’d pretend to enter into a bargain with the Brown Robin, such as is here proposed.”
Nick did not reply at once. When he did, he said:
“Do you know, Edith, I am under the impression that this is an impudent and audacious beginning of an effort to blackmail me.”