Part 29 (1/2)

”The goods that I have to deliver,” said Landon, slowly, ”are what I put safely out of your way a moment ago. That boy's health, and mental and--moral, too, if you like--strength. Do you get the notion?”

For a moment the silence remained unbroken. Then Aylmer spoke.

”You devil!” he said slowly. ”You incarnate fiend!”

Landon laughed again, with complacent satisfaction.

”You do get the notion,” he said. ”Let your mind dwell upon it, give it deliberation. I sha'n't kill the boy, oh, not for a long time. I shall keep him alive; he'll even enjoy the process. I'll bring him up carefully, very carefully. There isn't a form of life as I've seen it that he sha'n't be familiar with. You may hunt me from England; you may make it hot for me in Europe and America. There are plenty of lively resorts in this good old continent of Africa which will amply fulfill my purpose. I'll put him through the mill; I'll begin early, too. I sha'n't leave much to luck. If by any chance you brought about my death, and I credit you with grit enough to attempt it, you'll find the kid well-grounded. He shall be his father's son, and a bit more. I hadn't the advantages he's going to have.”

The flush of anger which had mounted to Aylmer's face was gone now. He looked at Landon keenly, indeed, but with more curiosity than wrath.

His voice was quite controlled.

”And in the alternative?” he asked. ”In any case you keep him. What do we gain by meeting your terms?”

Landon shrugged his shoulders.

”He has his chance, then, against the World, the Flesh and the Devil with the rest of them. I sha'n't pose as a saint before him, but I'll see that he behaves himself decently and plays the game. He'll go to Eton and Balliol, if he has the sense. I sha'n't send him to Sunday-school but he'll attend church on Sundays--once. I'll choose his tailor and put him in the way of things. He'll learn, in fact, how to conduct himself as an ordinary English gentleman.”

Aylmer nodded.

”From whom?” he asked quietly.

And then Landon flinched. The eyes which had been bent on his cousin with eagerness, with greed alight in them, quivered. He gave a little intake of the breath.

”You cursed prig!” he breathed thickly. ”You cursed prig!”

Aylmer smiled.

”You've been out of it too long, Landon,” he said. ”For over a year I suppose your only familiars have been Bowery ruffians or Soho blackmailers. Did you think this could be done? Did you really make yourself believe that I was likely to be an easy intermediary for such a proposition? And I imagine that you forget that it was entirely for your wife's sake that your father-in-law dealt gently with you during your married life. There's no need for any restraint in that quarter now.”

Landon made a gesture of contempt.

”Are you making threats for that old tame cat?” he sneered.

”He's got claws that will reach out to scratch you at the world's end, my amiable cousin. They're made of dollars. And they'll be sharpened with American grit. Uncommon unpleasant, you'll find them.”

Landon snapped his fingers.

”That for his dollars and his grit!” he cried. ”It's no good raising your bluff on me. I'll see you every time, see you and take it! Leave it out; don't waste time over it. Are you going to carry my message to them, or are you not?”

”No,” said Aylmer. ”You knew perfectly well what my answer was going to be, but if it's any satisfaction to you to have it--No!”

Landon leaned forward.

”I guessed what your high falutin' ideas would answer,” he said, ”but I'm talking to you--to you about yourself.” He pointed to the well-like opening above his head. ”Do you believe that you could climb out of there with a broken collar-bone?” he asked.

Aylmer glanced quickly in the direction of the extended finger.