"Yes, I am. I don't want to exert force, or trust to my position. I meet you man to man equal. I've long been as good as tokened to her, and it would be a very wicked thing for you to come between us. I'll not say you have no rights, however; I'll not say that a silly woman's passing whim isn't to count. I'll grant everything--everything in reason. I'll allow that you won her fair and square, though she didn't tell you quite the truth, I'm afraid. I'll allow that for the moment she honestly thinks that she loves you better than she loves me. But, beyond all that, there's these two points. I'll offer you good money to drop this, as in justice to me you should do at once; and I'll say that if you want Sarah Jane to be happy and content and prosperous, you must see that I'm the man to make her so--not you." "That's your side, then?" "Yes; that's my side--the side of justice and wisdom, if you come to think of it." "And what's the figure? I'm a poor man, and oughtn't to lose a chance of making good money, Mr. Weekes. 'Tis the opportunity of a lifetime, you see. 'Twill never come again." "Well, I'm no skinflint. Give her up and I'll let you have ten pounds." "Ten pounds! That's an awful lot!" "A lot of money, as you say." "But not enough for Sarah Jane." Weekes held the battle as good as won, and now determined to fight for the lowest figure possible. He was rather astonished to succeed so easily, and from great anxiety leapt quickly over to the other extreme of contempt. "You're greedy, I'm afraid." "No, no--not greedy, only businesslike. I won her fairly, you see. Us can't all go uphill, like you. Some stands still; some goes down. Here's my chance to go up a little." "I'll make it fifteen, then." "'Tis for me to make the figure now, and for you to pay it. I suppose the question is what's Sarah Jane Friend worth to you?" "Not at all," answered Jarratt. "That's neither here nor there. All I want to know is what money you'll drop her for. And I warn you not to be too greedy, else I may get rusty on my side and take her by force for nothing." "I see; I must be reasonable?" "Of course--give and take in business." "Well, then, suppose we say--a hundred million pounds?" "Don't be a fool," answered the other testily. "I'm not talking to you for fun." Then Daniel's temper burst from control. "God damn you, you ugly, cross-eyed cur! To dare to come to a man and offer ten pounds to him for his woman! You flint-faced wretch!--a withered thing like you to think of her! I----" "You'd better----" began Weekes; but Brendon roared him down.