“W-hat are you g-going to d-do with them?” he asked.
“Just show them to people,” said William calmly.
Horrid visions passed before Mr. Bott’s eye. He saw the wretched things in the local paper. He saw them passed from hand to hand in drawing-rooms. He saw strong men helpless with mirth as they seized on them. His position in Society—well, the less said about his position in Society if those things became public the better....
William took a crumpled document from his pocket and laid it solemnly upon Mr. Bott’s desk.
“That’s a contrack,” he said, “signed in all our life’s blood sayin’ that we’ll keep ’em hid safely and never show ’em to anyone s’long as you let Bob stay.”
Mr. Bott knew when he was beaten. He moistened his lips.
“All right,” he whispered. “All right ... I promise—only—go away.”
They went away.
Mr. Bott locked the contract in his desk and pocketed the key.
Mrs. Bott came in. Mr. Bott still sat huddled in his chair.