"Oh!" said Hench cynically. "And you really expect me to pay you two thousand a year to refrain from doing so? I won't." "You won't?" Spruce was plainly taken aback. "No. Rather than do so I shall go to the police and tell my story. Better be in the hands of the authorities than in yours." "You won't dare to do what you say." "Oh yes, I dare. My conscience is clear, so I am willing to stand the brunt." Spruce was plainly embarrassed by this defiance and did not very well know what to say or do. If Hench acted as he threatened to do, there would be no money for the Nut, and perhaps an action against him as a blackmailer. He was shrewd enough to see this, and therefore shuffled his cards so that he might not drive his proposed victim to extremities. "What do you wish me to do, then?" he asked sullenly. Before Hench could reply Vane, who was looking out of the window, turned round sharply. "There is Peter," he said, glancing at his friend. "What the deuce is he hanging round your cottage for?" The answer came from an unexpected quarter. "Peter is waiting to see me," said Spruce with dignity. "He was at the Bull Inn when your messenger came and I told him to wait until I returned. I expect he has followed me here and expects me to come out soon." "What are you seeing Peter about?" questioned Hench sharply. "That is my business," snapped the Nut sulkily. "Mine also. Peter is the brother of Bottles, who is employed by Mrs. Tesk, and both the boys are meddling in matters which do not concern them. What does it all mean?" "You had better ask the boy in and question him," sneered Spruce coolly. "I shall do so after we have dispatched this affair," said Hench sharply. "You ask me what I wish you to do. I reply, clear my character." "How can I do that?" "In a way best known to yourself. But you are well aware that Madame Alpenny is the guilty person." "I am not." "Don't tell lies. It is better worth my while to pay you two thousand a year to prove her guilty and me innocent, than for me to give the income to you merely for the sake of your holding your tongue. That's a thing you never did and never will do." Spruce considered. "If I prove Madame Alpenny to be guilty," he said, with a greedy gleam in his eyes, "will you pay me the two thousand a year?" "I'll think about it." "Then I do nothing. To be quite plain, I _can_ clear your character in the way you say----" "Ah, I knew you were lying." "----But I shan't do so unless you agree, in the presence of Vane, to give me my price." "It is too large a price," grumbled the barrister. "Large or small, it is what I want." "I'll give you one thousand a year if you----" "Two thousand."