“Yes,” he answered, “there are. In the first place there is no knowing in what light your father would look on the matter and how his view of it would affect your future interests. In the second your engagement to Miss de la Molle, upon which you are strongly set, would certainly be broken off.” “How do you know that I am engaged?” asked Edward in surprise. “It does not matter how I know it,” said the lawyer, “I do know it, so it will be useless for you to deny it. As you remark, this suit will probably be your ruin in every way, and therefore it is, as you will easily understand, a good moment for a man who wants his revenge to choose to bring it.” “Without admitting anything,” answered Edward Cossey, “I wish to ask you a question. Is there no way out of this? Supposing that I have done you a wrong, wrong admits of compensation.” “Yes, it does, Mr. Cossey, and I have thought of that. Everybody has his price in this world and I have mine; but the compensation for such a wrong must be a heavy one.” “At what price will you agree to stay the action for ever?” he asked. “The price that I will take to stay the action is the transfer into my name of the mortgages you hold over the Honham Castle Estates,” answered Mr. Quest quietly. “Great heavens!” said Edward, “why that is a matter of thirty thousand pounds.” “I know it is, and I know also that it is worth your while to pay thirty thousand pounds to save yourself from the scandal, the chance of disinheritance, and the certainty of the loss of the woman whom you want to marry. So well do I know it that I have prepared the necessary deeds for your signature, and here they are. Listen, sir,” he went on sternly; “refuse to accept my terms and by to-night’s post I shall send this letter of instructions. Also I shall send to Mr. Cossey, Senior, and to Mr. de la Molle copies of these two precious epistles,” and he pointed to the incriminating documents, “together with a copy of the letter to my agents; and where will you be then? Consent, and I will bind myself not to proceed in any way or form. Now, make your choice.” “But I cannot; even if I will, I cannot,” said he, almost wringing his hands in his perplexity. “It was on condition of my taking up those mortgages that Ida consented to become engaged to me, and I have promised that I will cancel them on our wedding. Will you not take money instead?” “Yes,” answered Mr. Quest, “I would take money. A little time ago I would not have taken it because I wanted that property; now I have changed my ideas. But as you yourself said, your credit is strained to the utmost, and while your father is alive you will not find it possible to raise another thirty thousand pounds. Besides, if this matter is to be settled at all it must be settled at once. I will not wait while you make attempts to raise the money.” “But about the mortgages? I promised to keep them. What shall I say to Ida?”