He turned on me quite savagely--his black eyes glared.
"Jesting? What do you mean by saying I am jesting?"
"I shall certainly deposit with you no sum approaching ten pounds."
He continued to regard me as if he were taking my measure. I met his glance unflinchingly. I wished him to understand that I was not quite the simpleton he seemed to take me for. I think he grasped something of my meaning. His tone became sullen.
"Make it five pounds, then."
"I am more likely to make it five shillings. However, under the peculiar circumstances, as I don't know what I should have done without your handkerchief, I don't mind going as far as half a sovereign, which is about four times its value."
His reply, though scarcely a direct answer to my words, still was sufficiently plain.
"You and I, Mr. Tennant, will spend the night together."
"Again, I ask you, what do you mean by that?"
The fellow smoothed his clean-shaven chin and grinned.