She did not know what to say--what to admit, and what to deny.
"Think it over," said the terrible little woman.

"We're not in a 'urry to a day or two.

We'll give you a fortnight to find the money." She put her hand, fat, yet claw-like, on Mrs.Crofton's shoulder.
"There's nothing to look so frightened about," she said a little gruffly.
"Piper and me aren't blackmailers.

But we've got to look out for ourselves, same as everybody else does.

It's Piper's idea--that five hundred pounds is.