whisper.

The younger man opened his eyes. "Hum! A very pretty little amount," he
said, "but I have yet to learn what proportion of that sum will
percolate into the pockets of this child. In other words, what is to be
my share of the plunder?"

"Plunder, my dear boy, is a strange word to make use of. Pray be more
particular in your choice of terms. The mercenary view you take of the
case is very distressing to my feelings. A proper recompense for your
time and trouble it was my intention to make you; but as regards the
five thousand pounds, I hoped to be able to fund it in toto, to add it
to my little capital, and to leave it intact for those who will come
after me. And you know very well, James, that there will only be you and
Mirpah to divide whatever the old man may die possessed of."

"But, my dear dad, you are not going to die for these five-and-twenty
years. My present necessities are imperative: like the daughters of the
horse-leech, they are continually asking for more."

"James! James! how changed you are from the dear, unselfish boy of ten
years ago!"

"And very proper too. But do let us be business-like, if you please. The
rôle of the 'heavy father' doesn't suit you at all. Keep sentiment out
of the case, and then we shall do very well. Listen to my ultimatum. The
day I place the Hara Diamond in your hands you must give me a cheque for
fifteen hundred pounds."

"Fifteen hundred pounds!" gasped the old man. "James! James! do you wish