“I think he dare,” Adams replied. “You don’t know him as well as I do. His whole future now depends upon his bluff, and he knows it. We can ruin both the house of Statham Brothers and its principal. In the circumstances, it is only natural that he should assume an air of defiance.”
“Which we must combat by firmness. We are associated in this affair, and my advice is not to show any sign of weakness.”
“Exactly. That’s the reason I asked you here to-night, Lyle—to discuss our next step.”
The hunchback was silent and thoughtful for a few moments. Then he said:
“There is but one mode of procedure now, and that is to go to him and tell him our intentions. He’ll be frightened, and the rest will be easy.”
“Sam Statham is not very easily frightened. You wouldn’t be, if you were worth a couple of million pounds.” Adams remarked, with a dubious shake of the head.
“I should be if upon me rested the burden of guilt.”
“Then your suggestion is that I should go and tell him openly my intentions?”
“Decidedly. The more open you are, the greater will be the old man’s terror, and the easier our ultimate task.”
“He’ll refuse to see me.”