He must deal with the man now or never.

The twenty thousand pounds were nothing.

Had there been no question about his wife, he would have paid the money, moved by that argument as to his 'old pals,'-- by the conviction that the result of his dealing with them had in truth been to leave them 'as bare as the palm of his hand.' They were welcome to the money; and if by giving the money he could save his Hester, how great a thing it would be! Was it not his duty to make the attempt?
And yet there was in his bosom a strong aversion to have any secret dealing with such a man as this,--to have any secret dealing in such a matter.

To buy off witnesses in order that his wife's name and his boy's legitimacy might be half,--only half,--established! For even though these people should be made absolutely to vanish, though the sea should swallow them, all that had been said would be known, and too probably believed for ever! And then, too, he was afraid.

If he did this thing alone, without counsel, would he not be putting himself into the hands of these wretches?
Might he not be almost sure that when they had gotten his money they would turn upon him and demand more?
Would not the payment of the money be evidence against him to any jury?
Would it be possible to make judge or jury believe, to make even a friend believe, that in such an emergency he had paid away so large a sum of money because he had felt himself bound to do so by his conscience?
'Well, squire,' said Bollum, 'I think you see your way through it; don't you ?' 'I don't regard the money in the least.