His dismay delighted her.

"Certainly," she smiled. "Half the money is in my bank at this
minute--besides all the rest you've given me. Oh, I've got enough
to live on without marrying you. Who do you think put your wife
wise and gave her the evidence for her divorce, eh? Think it
over."

As she watched the effect of her words Lilas felt that her
satisfaction was now complete; the man's slack jaw, his staring,
bloodshot eyes convinced her that this moment was all that she had
wished it to be.

"You'll settle with her for a million, and then you'll settle with
me for this." She indicated the elaborate apartment with a
gesture. "You think this ends our affair, don't you? Well, it
doesn't. Oh no! You can't cast me off. I'll drag you through the
gutter where you sent me, and you'll either marry me or--the
courts and the newspapers will get all your letters. You can't buy
them--the letters. I'm rich, understand? Do you remember those
letters? You were very indiscreet--and--do you want me to quote
them? The less said, the better, perhaps. Your wife will read them
and your daughters--"

Jarvis Hammon roused himself at last. Surprise, incredulity,
dismay gave place to fury, and, as in all primitive natures, his
wrath took shape as an impulse to destroy.

"You'll--do that--eh?" His tone, his bearing were threatening. He
advanced as if to seize her in his great hands, and only her