"Well, then, you contribute to the common capital but one thing—your brains. Later on, if the play goes against us, you may have to throw on the table your liberty, and, in the last extremity, your life. But that is the utmost limit of your losses. I, on the contrary, must contribute myself to the hazard, and no man understands what that means to a woman."
"How long is it since the woman has understood?" he asked, mockingly, but Esmay was silent.
"Well, then, if I cannot have you with me I want you actively against me—the more balls in the air, the better sport for the juggler. And at least we understand each other."
"There is just the one question—perhaps an obvious one."
"Yes."
"Boris or Ulick? For of course you know which of them is to be the old Dom's heir."
"I do."
"I am to be informed of my purchaser's name—after the bargaining is over? And only then?"
"Since you choose to put it in that way—yes."
Neither chose to break the silence that fell between them, and Esmay, catching up her skirt, turned to go.