Rich turned his eyes on the cabman.

“How much do you want?” he asked.

“One thousand dollars,” cabby coolly replied, without changing an expression.

“Absurd!”

“No, it is not.”

“It is.”

“To keep me quiet one thousand dollars is a small sum.”

“How do I know, if I do pay you this sum, that you will not give me away, anyhow?”

“I never go back on my word.”

“I will give you five hundred.”