Page:Barr--Stranleighs millions.djvu/34

22 "No, you will not," returned Lord Stranleigh very quietly. "I will not?" cried Brassard, bringing his clenched fist down on the desk.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because you lack the foresight to close at once with the most advantageous business offer which I have just made to you."

"Now, to show that you do not know what you are talking about, my good friend, allow me to tell you that I could sell out Bendale to-morrow. I hold some of his paper which he cannot meet. I bought it in the open market at a discount, and a big discount at that. I can close him up to-morrow."

"Then why don't you do it?"

"That's my business. I want to see the poor fool wriggle a little longer."

"Do you realise, Mr. Brassard, that the poor fool may go insane and shoot you?"

"Is that a threat?"

"No, it is a mere statement of probability."

"Have you come in here to attempt blackmail?"

Lord Stranleigh laughed, a laugh so honest and hearty that even a professional detective would have known the interrogation was absurd.

"I know little of blackmailers, Mr. Brassard, but I believe it is not their custom to offer their victim