And now, finding that
fortune has lifted me out of the gutter into which you flung me, you
come to me to demand your share of my good fortune, I suppose?"
"That's about it, my lady," answered Mr. Milsom, with supreme coolness.
"I don't mind a few hard words, more or less--they break no bones; and,
what's more, I'm used to 'em. What I want is money, ready money, down
on the nail, and plenty of it. You may pelt me as hard as you like with
fine speeches, as long as you cash up liberally; but cash I must have,
by fair means or foul, and I want a pretty good sum to start with."
"You want a large sum," said Honoria, quietly; "how much do you want?"
"Well, I don't want to take a mean advantage of your generosity, so
I'll be moderate. Say five thousand pounds--to begin with."
"And you expect to get that from me?"
"Of course I do."
"Five thousand pounds?"
"Five thousand pounds, ready money."
Lady Eversleigh stopped suddenly, and looked the man full in the face.
"You shall not have five thousand pence," she exclaimed, "not five
thousand pence. My dead husband's money shall never pass into your
hands, to be squandered in scenes of vice and crime. If you choose to
live an honest life, I will allow you a hundred a year--a pension which
shall be paid you quarterly--through the hands of my London solicitors.
Beyond this, I will not give you a halfpenny.
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