“So, gentlemen, you are standing in as partners over this precious business? And because you know me to be a poor broke man, with a wife and family, you naturally think you can buy me to work for you off the straight. Well, perhaps that’s possible, but there are two ways of doing it, and of the two I like Mr. Onslow’s best. When a man’s a blackguard, it don’t make him swallow any the sweeter for setting up to be a little tin saint. And I don’t mind who I say that to.” “My good man,” snarled Shelf, “do you mean to threaten me?” “No, I don’t. I just gave you my own opinion, as from man to man, just because I respect myself. But I’m not going round to your place of worship to shout it out to them that sit under you. They wouldn’t believe me if I did. Not now at any rate. Besides, it wouldn’t do me any good, and I couldn’t afford it. I’m a needy man, Mr. Shelf, as you have guessed; and that’s why I’m going to accept your offer. But don’t let us have any misunderstanding between ourselves as to what it foots up to. What I’m going to sign on for directly, when you hand me the papers, is a spell of piracy on the high seas, neither more nor less. And I’m going to have my money all paid down in advance before I ring an engine-bell on your blasted tramp of a steamer. I guess that’s fair enough. My family’ll want something to go on with if I’m caught, because if one’s found out at this game it’s just a common ordinary hanging matter. Yes, sir, swing by the neck till I’m dead as an ax, and may Heaven have mercy on _your_ miserable tag of a soul! That’s what this tea-party means, and for your dirty £500 you’re buying a live human man.” CHAPTER VII. £500,000—IN GOLD. The little red-bearded man had gone, slamming the door noisily behind him. Shelf mopped his large white face with a scented pocket-handkerchief. “Do you think,” he said nervously—“do you think we may trust him?” “To begin with, we’ve got to now, whether we like it or not. He’s nothing to gain by playing traitor.” “But would he betray us in case of success?” “Perhaps,” said Onslow, “he won’t have the chance. Other hands on that steamer will have to share the secret in whole or in part. Perhaps they won’t all of them come through it alive. If you remember that we are plotting deliberate piracy on the high seas, you will recognize that there is precedent for a considerable percentage of casualties.” The City man shuddered. Through the double windows came the sullen roar of a London street, and in imagination he seemed to distinguish the howl of the crowd joined in execration against him. His eye fell upon a paper on the desk. It was the formal notice from her bankers that his wife’s account was heavily overdrawn. He lifted the paper, and tore it with his teeth; and then he smote the table with a shut fist, so that geysers flew from the inkwells. But his passion found no outlet in words. He spoke in his platform voice, and said nothing about the prime compelling force.