[Illustration: "We've got a long fight ahead, Leslie--a running fight, as Colonel Morehead calls it, but I'm ready"] "Not a threat, but a surmise," he answered in the same even tone. "People have sought your life before, you know," he went on, his face breaking out into a disagreeable smile, "and even you have attempted suicide. If you should die, what would become of her?" "When I die will be time enough to talk about it," snarled Wilkinson. And thrusting his face now into that of the other, he demanded: "Come, what's the game? Lay your cards down on the table--out into the open. Why do you want a third ...?" "Chiefly because I've earned it." "Earned it! I took you out of the gutter, you ingrate!" Flomerfelt shrugged his shoulders. "If I haven't earned it so far, then I shall earn it in the future," he said. "How?" "By keeping silent in the presence of one person." "Who?" Flomerfelt smiled, but did not answer. "Leslie Wilkinson, of course," put in Mrs. Peter V. "I don't understand," muttered Wilkinson, once more puffing on his cigar. "Why silent in her presence? What's that to me?" "It isn't necessary to go over the facts," returned Flomerfelt. "To be brief, you've got a mint of money in her hands, which she knows nothing about. You know where it is, the missus knows, and I know. Some chaps in Vienna know, thirds for us, or tell her ...?" Peter laughed aloud. "Tell her if you want to," he roared. "But do you suppose she'd give the game away? She! Why, she's the only trump I ever had about me! She'll stick through thick and thin! Tell her and be hanged!" Flomerfelt held up his hands, saying: "I must say that you don't know your own daughter." "You're a fool, Peter!" said his wife, sharply. "The instant the girl knows, it's all up with you, my friend," went on Flomerfelt. "But she needs managing, watching. It takes more than you to manage, to watch her, too. What is it--thirds for us, or tell her...." Peter turned his back upon them. "Tell her and be hanged!" he said. Flomerfelt's eyes sought those of the lady. "What's the next move?" hers seemed to ask of him. A smile of cunning crossed his face. "Then, Peter, we'll tell the public," he ventured. Peter swung about, crying: "Ah, why didn't you get down to that in the first place! I can understand that--I've understood it all along--you were bound to hold me up. I'm used to that--have had it all my life. Now, look here, Flomerfelt, I'm through with you--through with both of you. But I'm willing to be fair. I bought Leech with a million dollars, as you know. And I'll do the same with you--with her. You can take it or leave it, just as you please." "It's not enough," spoke up Flomerfelt. "I should think not," said the lady. Peter V. took out his watch and said: "I'll give you just one minute to accept." Flomerfelt took out his watch, and answered: "I'll give you two minutes to divide with us."