"If you have got any letters bearing my signature, you will be good
enough to give them to me," said Benson, very slowly.

"They're mine," said Carr, lightly; "given to me by the lady you wrote
them to. I must say that they are not all in the best possible taste."

His cousin reached forward suddenly, and catching him by the collar of
his coat pinned him down on the table.

"Give me those letters," he breathed, sticking his face close to Carr's.

"They're not here," said Carr, struggling. "I'm not a fool. Let me go,
or I'll raise the price."

The other man raised him from the table in his powerful hands, apparently
with the intention of dashing his head against it. Then suddenly his
hold relaxed as an astonished-looking maid-servant entered the room with
letters. Carr sat up hastily.

"That's how it was done," said Benson, for the girl's benefit as he took
the letters.

"I don't wonder at the other man making him pay for it, then," said Carr,
blandly.

"You will give me those letters?" said Benson, suggestively, as the girl
left the room.

"At the price I mentioned, yes," said Carr; "but so sure as I am a living