The Second Confesion

“Neither can the cost in money. I certainly haven't got enough, nothing like it, and I won't be earning any, so your father will have to foot the bill, and he will have to commit himself in advance. If I stake my comfort, my freedom, and my life, he may properly be expected to stake his fortune. Whatever his resources may be-” Wolfe interrupted himself. “Bah!” he said scornfully. “You deserve complete candour. As I said, Mr Rony is a mere trifle; he'll be disposed of in no time, once I am established where I can be undisturbed. But I hope I have given you a clear idea of what X is like. He will know I can't go in without money and, when he finds he can't get at me, will try to stop the source of supply. He will try many expedients before he resorts to violence, for he is a man of sense and knows that murder should always be the last on the list, and of course the murder of a man of your father's position would be excessively dangerous; but if he thought it necessary he would risk it. I don't-” “You can leave that out,” Sperling cut in. “If she wants to consider the cost in money she can, but I'll not have her saving my life. That's up to me.” Wolfe looked at him. “A while ago you told me to go ahead. What about it now? Do you want to pay me off?” “No. You spoke about your vanity, but I've got more up than vanity. I'm not quitting and I don't intend to.” “Listen, Jim-” his wife began, but to cut her off he didn't even have to speak.

He only looked at her.

“In that case,” Wolfe told Gwenn, “there are only two alternatives. I won't drop it, and your father won't discharge me, so the decision rests with you, as I said it would. You may have proof if you insist on it. Do you?” “You said,” Madeline exploded at me, “it would be the best you could do for her!” “I still say it,” I fired back. “You'd better come down and look at the plant rooms too!” Gwenn sat gazing at Wolfe, not stubbornly-more as if she were trying to see through him to the other side.