'That certainly was reasonable,' replied Edith. 'What did he say to it?'

'Oh, he abused me, and abused William, and went on at a dreadful rate,
until I was obliged to order him out of the office.'

'But what did he say about meeting William when he returned, and making
the charges against him then?'

'What did he say? I don't remember. Oh yes! he said it would be too late
then; that they had only a few days to do what business they have to do,
and that is why he made the demand for twenty thousand pounds. It was to
repair the harm, whatever the harm was, William had done. I look on it
simply as some blackmailing scheme of his, and I am astonished that a man
belonging to so good a house as he does should try that game with me. I
shall speak to the elder partner about it to-morrow, and if he does not
make the young man apologize in the most abject manner he will be the
loser by it, I can tell him that.'

'I would think no more about it, father, if I were you. Do not let it
trouble you in the least.'

'Oh, it doesn't trouble me, but young men nowadays seem to think they can
say anything to their elders.'

'I mean,' she continued, 'that I would not go to his partner for a day or
two. Wait and see what happens. I have no doubt, when he considers the
matter, he will be thoroughly ashamed of himself.'

'Well, I hope so.'