"I swear."
Mr. Haines turned to me.
"You hear? He says he swears." He removed his hand. "Take the money. If you're lying to me again, when next we meet there'll one of us have fits."
Mr. Trevannion took the money in rather a hurry, as if he feared that, after all, Mr. Haines might change his mind.
"I may truly say, Mr. Haines, that I never saw a father's love which equalled yours. It is a rare, noble spectacle. It will be my pride, as well as my pleasure, to restore, in the shortest possible space of time, your child to her father's arms."
"Mind you do."
Mr. Trevannion had disposed of the money. He turned to me.
"Eh, madam, might I have the pleasure of saying one word to you in private?"
"Certainly not."
He seemed surprised.