Of course, but a clever man like you…
James
Now then, no bluff. I tell you it won't work with me… D'you include plate and linen?
John
Everything.
James
Well, if it was well sold – by a man as knew his business…
John
If you sold it, for instance?
James
It might fetch a hundred pounds – it might fetch a hundred and fifty.
John
That wouldn't be a bad present to make to any one, would it?
James
No. I think I can agree with you there.
John
Well, Basil thought of giving the entire contents of the house to your mother and sister.
James
To tell you the truth, it's no more than he ought to do.
John
The condition is, of course, that nothing is said at the inquest.
James
[With a sneer.] You make me laugh. D'you think you can gag me by giving a houseful of furniture to my mother?
John
I had no such exalted opinion of your disinterestedness, Mr. Bush. I come to you now.
James
[Sharply.] What d'you mean by that?
John
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