"But even that is not the worst of it. The
generous, noble girl herself says that if the letter appears in
the paper, with all the unanswerable comments this scoundrel
would be sure to add to it, she would rather die than hold me to
my engagement, even if my father would let me keep it."
As he said this his eyes began to water. He was a weak young
fellow, and ridiculously fond of her. I brought him back to
business with another rap of the paper-knife.
"Hold up, Mr. Frank," says I. "I have a question or two more. Did
you think of asking the young lady whether, to the best of her
knowledge, this infernal letter was the only written evidence of
the forgery now in existence?"
"Yes, I did think directly of asking her that," says he; "and she
told me she was quite certain that there was no written evidence
of the forgery except that one letter."
"Will you give Mr. Davager his price for it?" says I.
"Yes," says Mr. Frank, quite peevish with me for asking him such
a question. He was an easy young chap in money matters, and
talked of hundreds as most men talk of sixpences.
"Mr. Frank," says I, "you came here to get my help and advice in
this extremely ticklish business, and you are ready, as I know
without asking, to remunerate me for all and any of my services
at the usual professional rate. Now, I've made up my mind to act
boldly--desperately, if you like--on the hit or miss, win all or
lose all principle--in dealing with this matter.
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