“Nowt!” said Edward Henry.

“Now, sir,” said Mr. Slosson, “we’d better come to an understanding about this so-called option.  It’s not serious, you know.”

“You’ll find it is.”

“It’s not commercial.”

“I fancy it is—­for me!” said Edward Henry.

“The premium mentioned is absurdly inadequate, and the ground-rent is quite improperly low.”

“That’s just why I look on it as commercial—­from my point of view,” said Edward Henry.

“It isn’t worth the paper it’s written on,” said Mr. Slosson.

“Why?”

“Because, seeing the unusual form of it, it ought to be stamped, and it isn’t stamped.”

“Listen here, Mr. Slosson,” said Edward Henry, “I want you to remember that you’re talking to a lawyer.”

“A lawyer?”

“I was in the law for years,” said Edward Henry.  “And you know as well as I do that I can get the option stamped at any time by paying a penalty—­which at worst will be a trifle compared to the value of the option.”

“Ah!” Mr. Slosson paused, and resumed his puffing, which exercise—­perhaps owing to undue excitement—­he had pretermitted.  “Then further, the deed isn’t drawn up.”

“That’s not my fault.”

“Further, the option is not transferable.”

“We shall see about that.”

“And the money ought to be paid down to-day, even on your own showing—­every cent of it, in cash.”

“Here is the money,” said Edward Henry, drawing his pocket-book from his breast.  “Every cent of it, in the finest brand of bank-notes!”

He flung down the notes with the impulsive gesture of an artist; then, with the caution of a man of the world, gathered them in again.

“The whole circumstances under which the alleged option is alleged to have been given would have to be examined,” said Mr. Slosson.

“I shan’t mind,” said Edward Henry.  “Others might.”

“There is such a thing as undue influence.”

“Miss Euclid is fifty if she’s a day,” replied Edward Henry.

“I don’t see what Miss Euclid’s age has to do with the matter.”

“Then your eyesight must be defective, Mr. Slosson.”

“The document might be a forgery.”

“It might.  But I’ve got an autograph letter written entirely in the late Lord Woldo’s hand, enclosing the option.”

“Let me see it, please.”

“Certainly—­but in a court of law,” said Edward Henry.  “You know you’re hungry for a good action, followed by a bill of costs as long as from here to Jericho.”

“Mr. Wrissell will assuredly fight,” said Mr. Slosson.  “He has already given me the most explicit instructions.  Mr. Wrissell’s objection to a certain class of theatres is well known.”

“And does Mr. Wrissell settle everything?”

“Mr. Wrissell and Lady Woldo settle everything between them, and Lady Woldo is guided by Mr. Wrissell.  There is an impression abroad that because Lady Woldo was originally connected—­er—­with the stage, she and Mr. Wrissell are not entirely at one in the conduct of her and her son’s interests.  Nothing could be further from the fact.”