"I think not." Giovanni turned away, shaking his head and still smiling.

To tell the truth, though he knew Zorzi's character, he had not believed that any one could refuse such a bribe, and he was trying to account for the Dalmatian's integrity by reckoning up the expectations the young man must have, to set against such a large sum of ready money.

He could only find one solution to the problem: Zorzi was already in full possession of the secrets, and would therefore not sell them at any price, because he hoped before long to set up for himself and make his own fortune by them.

If this were true, and he could not see how it could be otherwise, he and his brother would be cheated of their heritage when their father died.
It was clear that something must be done to hinder Zorzi from carrying out his scheme.

After all, Zorzi's own jesting proposal, that a ruffian should be employed to cut his throat, was not to be rejected.