or a moment," he said. "While that document remains in
your possession, you walk the narrow way, your life hangs upon a
thread. Better surrender it and attend to your stocks and shares.
Heaven knows how you first came into our affairs, but the sooner
you are out of them the better. What do you say now to my offer?"

"It is refused," Laverick declared. "I regret; to add," he
continued, "that I have already spared you all the time I have at
my disposal. Forgive me."

He pressed a button with his finger. His visitor rose up in anger.

"You are not such a fool!" he exclaimed. "You are not going to
send me away without it? Why, I tell you that there won't be a
safe corner in the World for you!"

Halsey opened the door. Laverick nodded toward his visitor.

"Show this gentleman out, Halsey," he ordered.

Halsey started. The noise of the revolver shot had evidently been
muffled by the heavy connecting doors, but there was a smell of
gunpowder in the room, and a little wreath of smoke. The man rose
slowly to his feet, still blinking.

"It must be as you will, of course. I wonder if you would be so
good as to let your clerk direct me to an oculist? I am,
unfortunately, a helpless man in this condition."

"There is one a few yards off," Laverick answered. "Put on your
hat, Halsey, and show this gentleman where he can get some glasses."

His visitor leaned towards Laverick.

"It is your life which is in question, not my eyesight," he muttered.
"Do you accept my offer? Will you give me the document?"

"I do not and I will not," Laverick replied. "I shall not part with
anything until I know more than I know at present."

The man stood motionless for a moment. His fingers seemed to be
twitching. Laverick had a fancy that he was about to spring, but
if ever he had had any thoughts of the kind, Halsey's reappearance
checked them.

"I am much obliged to you, Mr. Laverick," he said quietly. "We
shall, perhaps, resume this discussion at some future date."

With that he turned and followed Halsey out of the room. Laverick
went to the window and threw it wide open. The smoke floated out,
the smell of gunpowder was gradually dispersed. Then he walked
back to his seat. Once more he locked up the notes. The document
was safe in his pocket. There was a slight mark by the side of his
temple, and his ear, he discovered, was bleeding. He rang the bell
and Halsey entered.

"Has our friend gone, Halsey?"