"Ten."
"No, no! I will not pay a sum so wicked."
"Then Gilbert Fane lives on for all I care, and with him, as you just now showed, your fear and hatred of the man."
"O Lord!" sighed Ferguson, "when will this cruel bleeding of me cease? Right well hast thou been named, thou godless, grasping Jew; for was not Tubal one of Shylock's friends? But, say, if I agree with thee, when wilt thou wipe this fellow off the earth? The Duke rides forth from Lyme within a day or two, and I would be assured that Gilbert Fane is dead before I leave. What, then?"
"He shall be dead before this time to-morrow," answered Tubal Ammon firmly.
"But what proof shall I have that it is so?"
"Good proof, sure proof, a proof there can be no gainsaying."
"Name it, then."
"The key that fits that box," replied the other slowly. "It hangs by a ribbon round his neck. I saw it as I watched him through the window. That will I bring as proof."
"Enough, then; 'tis a bargain. Bring me that key and I will pay thy cruel, wicked price. And now let me away before I am clean ruined."