"You are to be paid. I have come here to pay you."
"That's what you owe for the knowledge. But for coming? Ain't I to be paid extra for the journey?"
"H'sh!--you speak of money as though every one has a business to know that you have got your pockets full. What's a thousand dollars, seeing all that I have done for you!"
"It's all that you're going to get. It's all, indeed, that I have got to give you."
"It's all, at any rate, that you're going to get. Will you have it now?"
"Yes; I found the tomb. Here is a photograph of it. You can keep a copy if you like it."
"What do I want of a copy," said the man, taking the photograph in his hand. "He was always more trouble than he was worth,--was Ferdy. It's a pity she didn't marry me. I'd 've made a woman of her." Peacocke shuddered as he heard this, but he said nothing. "You may as well give us the picter;--it'll do to hang up somewhere if ever I have a room of my own. How plain it is. Ferdinand Lefroy,--of Kilbrack! Kilbrack indeed! It's little either of us was the better for Kilbrack. Some of them psalm-singing rogues from New England has it now;--or perhaps a right-down nigger. I shouldn't wonder. One of our own lot, maybe! Oh; that's the money, is it?--A thousand dollars; all that I'm to have for coming to England and telling you, and bringing you back, and showing you where you could get this pretty picter made." Then he took the money, a thick roll of notes, and crammed them into his pocket.
"It ain't worth the while with such a trifle as that."
"You'll never have that plunder in your fists again, my fine fellow."
"And now about my expenses out to England, on purpose to tell you all this. You can go and make her your wife now,--or can leave her, just as you please. You couldn't have done neither if I hadn't gone out to you."
"I have promised you nothing for your expenses going out,--and will pay you nothing."
"Certainly not. I do not suppose that you expect it for a moment, although you are so persistent in asking for it."
"And you think you've got the better of me, do you? You think you've carried me along with you, just to do your bidding and take whatever you please to give me? That's your idea of me?"
"There was a clear bargain between us. I have not got the better of you at all."