"Your offer," he asked, "what is it exactly?"

"Twenty thousand pounds," the man answered. "The document is worth
no more than that to you. How you came into this thing is a mystery,
but you are in and, what is more, you have possession. Twenty
thousand pounds, Mr. Laverick. It is a large sum of money. You
find it interesting?"

"I find it interesting," Laverick answered dryly, "but I am not a
seller."

The intruder moved his hand away from his eyes. His expression was
full of wonder.

"Consider for a moment," he said. "While that document remains in
your possession, you walk the narrow way, your life hangs upon a
thread. Better surrender it and attend to your stocks and shares.
Heaven knows how you first came into our affairs, but the sooner
you are out of them the better. What do you say now to my offer?"

"It is refused," Laverick declared. "I regret; to add," he
continued, "that I have already spared you all the time I have at
my disposal. Forgive me."

He pressed a button with his finger. His visitor rose up in anger.

"You are not such a fool!" he exclaimed. "You are not going to
send me away without it? Why, I tell you that there won't be a
safe corner in the World for you!"