She could think of nothing but a bribe - an enormous bribe.
'I admit you've won,' she said, 'but I've not finished yet. Just listen.'
Miss Spencer folded her arms, and glanced at the door, smiling
bitterly.
'You know my father is a millionaire; perhaps you know that he is
one of the richest men in the world. If I give you my word of
honour not to reveal anything that you've told me, what will you
take to let me go free?'
'What sum do you suggest?' asked Miss Spencer carelessly.
'Twenty thousand pounds,' said Nella promptly. She had begun to
regard the affair as a business operation.
Miss Spencer's lip curled.
'A hundred thousand.'
Again Miss Spencer's lip curled.
'Well, say a million. I can rely on my father, and so may you.'
'You think you are worth a million to him?'
'I do,' said Nella.
'And you think we could trust you to see that it was paid?'
'Of course you could.'
'And we should not suffer afterwards in any way?'
'I would give you my word, and my father's word.'
'Bah!' exclaimed Miss Spencer: 'how do you know I wouldn't let
you go free for nothing? You are only a rash, silly girl.'
'I know you wouldn't. I can read your face too well.'
'You are right,' Miss Spencer replied slowly. 'I wouldn't. I wouldn't
let you go for all the dollars in America.'
Nella felt cold down the spine, and sat down again in her chair. A
draught of air from the broken window blew on her cheek.
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