“Not if I can help it. I would like to know what sort of communication Mother Flintstone left.”
“It seems to me the best way to deal with the secret holder is to come to his terms,” suggested Claude.
“And be bled every now and then? I’ll defy him first!”
“Come, come. You can’t afford to do that. Think of our station in society. Sister is on the eve of marriage, and mother’s health is not what it used to be. We must come to his terms to save the house of Lamont.”
The millionaire began to pace the floor like a wild beast.
“What will you take to strangle the scoundrel, Claude?” he suddenly exclaimed, halting before his son. “You have every opportunity. Name your price.”
“You don’t really mean that?” cried the young man.
“I do, every word of it. What will you take to silence this man forever?”
“Two hundred thousand cash in hand.”
“Done!” exclaimed the millionaire. “That’s a bargain!”