Part 12 (2/2)
”You forget that I offered not to tell for--ten thousand pounds,” said Burchill. ”Therefore I should want quite as much for telling. If you carry ten thousand in cash on you----”
”Is there a secret?” asked Barthorpe. ”Sober earnest, now?”
”I have no objection to answering that question,” replied Burchill.
”There is!”
”And you want ten thousand pounds for it?” suggested Barthorpe.
”Pardon me--I want a good deal more for it, under the present much altered circ.u.mstances,” said Burchill quietly. ”There is an old saying that circ.u.mstances alter cases. It's true--they do. I would have taken ten thousand pounds from your uncle to hold my tongue--true. But--the case is altered by his death.”
Barthorpe pondered over this definite declaration for a minute or two.
Then, lowering his voice, he said:
”Looks uncommonly like--blackmail! And that----”
”Pardon me again,” interrupted Burchill. ”No blackmail at all--in my view. I happen to possess information of a certain nature, and----”
Barthorpe interrupted in his turn.
”The thing is,” he said, ”the only thing is--how long are you and I going to beat about the bush? Are you going to tell me if you signed that will I told you of?”
”Certainly not before I've seen it,” answered Burchill promptly.
”Will you tell me then?”
”That entirely depends.”
”On--what?”
”Circ.u.mstances!”
”Have the circ.u.mstances got anything to do with this secret?”
”Everything! More than anything--now.”
”Now--what?”
”Now that Jacob Herapath is dead. Look here!” continued Burchill, leaning forward and speaking impressively. ”Take my counsel. Leave this for the moment and come to see me--now, when? Tonight. Come tonight.
I've nothing to do. Come at ten o'clock. Then--I'll be in a position to say a good deal more. How will that do?”
”That'll do,” answered Barthorpe after a moment's consideration.
”Tonight, here, at ten o 'clock.”
He got up and made for the door. Burchill got up too, and for a moment both men glanced at each other. Then Burchill spoke.
”I suppose you've no idea who murdered your uncle?” he said.
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