"And what happened to you ?" he added, abandoning reflection by an effort.
"I stayed on." "Forgiven ?" "If you like to put it that way." "And you both filed the secret for future use!" "Don't talk through your neck, mister," said Abel, huffily.

"What are you drivin' at ?" "You kept this secret up your sleeve to play it for all it was worth in a country where it would be worth more than it was in the back-blocks?
That's all I mean." "Well, if I did, that's my own affair." "Oh, certainly.

Only you came here at your own proposal in order, I suppose, to sell this secret to me ?" "Yes, to sell it." "Then, you see, it is more or less my affair as well." "It may be," said Abel, doggedly.

And his face was very evil as he struck a match to relight his pipe; but before the flame Langholm had stepped backward, with his stick, that no superfluous light might fall upon his thin wrists and half-filled sleeves.
"You are sure," he pursued, "that Mr.Minchin was in possession of this precious secret at the time of his death ?" "I told it him myself.

It isn't one you would forget." "Was it one that he could prove ?" "Easily." "Could I ?" "Anybody could." "Well, and what's your price ?" "Fifty pounds." "Nonsense! I'm not a rich man like Mr.Steel." "I don't take less from anybody--not much less, anyhow!" "Not twenty in hard cash ?" "Not me; but look here, mister, you show me thirty and we'll see." The voice drew uncomfortably close.