It appears that you owe Basil a good deal of money. Can you pay it?
JAMES.
No.
JOHN.
Also it appears that there was some difficulty with your accounts in your last place.
JAMES.
That"s a lie.
JOHN.
Possibly. But altogether I fancy we could make it uncommonly nasty for you if you made a fuss. If dirty linen is going to be washed in public--there"s generally a good deal to be done on both sides.
JAMES.
I don"t care. I mean to get my own back. If I can only get my knife into that man--I"ll take the consequences.
JOHN.
On the other hand--if you won"t make a fuss at the inquest, I"ll give you fifty pounds.
JAMES.
[_Jumping up indignantly._] Are you trying to bribe me?
JOHN.
[_Calmly._] Yes.
JAMES.
I would "ave you know that I"m a gentleman, and what"s more, I"m an Englishman. And I"m proud of it. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.
I"ve never "ad any one try and bribe me before.
JOHN.
[_Indifferently._] Otherwise you would, doubtless, have accepted.
JAMES.
I"ve got more than half a mind to knock you down.
JOHN.
[_With a slight smile._] Come, come, Mr. Bush, don"t be ridiculous.
You"d far better keep quiet, you know.
JAMES.
[_Scornfully._] What do you think fifty pounds is to me?
JOHN.
[_With a sharp look._] Who spoke of fifty pounds?
JAMES.
You did.
JOHN.
You must have mistaken me. A hundred and fifty.
JAMES.
Oh! [_At first he is surprised, then, as the amount sinks into his mind, grows doubtful._] That"s a very different pair of shoes.
JOHN.
I don"t ask you to say anything untrue. After all, it"s not worth while for a man of the world like you--a business man--to give way to petty spite. And we don"t want to have any scandal. That would be just as unpleasant for you as for us.
JAMES.
[_Undecided._] There"s no denying that she was hysterical. If he"d only treated me like a gentleman, I shouldn"t have had anything to say.
JOHN.
Well?
JAMES.
[_With a foxy, keen glance at_ JOHN.] Make it two "undred, and I"ll say done.
JOHN.
[_Firmly._] No. You can take a hundred and fifty, or go to the devil.
JAMES.
Oh, well, "and it over.
JOHN.
[_Taking a cheque out of his pocket._] I"ll give you fifty now and the rest after the inquest.