"You maintain your note on the clause, then, to the letter?" I said.
"Yes—deuce take it! I have no other alternative." He walked to the fireplace and warmed himself, humming the fag end of a tune in a rich convivial bass voice. "What does your side say?" he went on; "now pray tell me—what does your side say?"
I was ashamed to tell him. I attempted to gain time—nay, I did worse. My legal instincts got the better of me, and I even tried to bargain.
"Twenty thousand pounds is rather a large sum to be given up by the lady's friends at two days' notice," I said.
"Very true," replied Mr. Merriman, looking down thoughtfully at his boots. "Properly put, sir—most properly put!"
"A compromise, recognising the interests of the lady's family as well as the interests of the husband, might not perh
