"No, I don't see that at all."
"It is what I have been praying for night and day—it is my escape. And he is granting it to me of his own consent—he consents to give me unmolested freedom."
And she implored Mr. Prentice to use his skill and sagacity to their uttermost extent.
"I want it to be a renunciation of all possible claims. It must be absolutely clear that this is the end of our partnership."
"Oh, as to that," said Mr. Prentice, "the partnership ends automatically with the sale of the business."
"But put it in the deed—explicitly. Make him surrender every claim—even if it seems to you only the shadow of a claim."
Then, without saying that she was to pay a price for Marsden's acquiescence, she repeated the agreed conditions of the separation. She became agitated when Mr. Prentice assured her that he would easily draft the deed.
"No, don't treat it as an easy task. Get counsel's opinion—the best counsel. Spare no expense—in this case. It is life and death to me.... Oh, Mr. Prentice, don't fail me now. Make the deed strong—make it so binding that he can never slip out of it."
"I won't fail you," said Mr. Prentice earnestly. "We'll make your deed as strong—as effective—as is humanly possible—a deed that the Courts will be far more inclined to support than to upset."