"Young man," he said, "you're deep, very deep--for your age. Is this candour--or deception? Do you mean what you say? Or do you know some reason why it suits your father's book to amalgamate as well as it suits mine? And are you trying to keep it from me?" He fingered his chin. "If I only knew that," he went on, "I should know how to deal with you." Young Granton smiled again. "You're a financier, Sir Charles," he answered. "I wonder, at your time of life, you should pause to ask another financier whether he's trying to fill his own pocket--or his father's. Whatever is my father's goes to his eldest son--and _I_ am his youngest." "You are right as to general principles," Sir Charles replied, quite affectionately. "Most sound and sensible. But how do I know you haven't bargained already in the same way with your father? You may have settled with _him_, and be trying to diddle me." The young man assumed a most candid air. "Look here," he said, leaning forward. "I offer you this chance. Take it or leave it. _Do_ you wish to purchase my aid for this amalgamation by a moderate commission on the net value of my father's option to yourself--which I know approximately?" "Say five per cent," I suggested, in a tentative voice, just to justify my presence. He looked me through and through. "_Ten_ is more usual," he answered, in a peculiar tone and with a peculiar glance. Great heavens, how I winced! I knew what his words meant. They were the very words I had said myself to Colonel Clay, as the Count von Lebenstein, about the purchase-money of the schloss--and in the very same accent. I saw through it all now. That beastly cheque! This was Colonel Clay; and he was trying to buy up my silence and assistance by the threat of exposure! My blood ran cold. I didn't know how to answer him. What happened at the rest of that interview I really couldn't tell you. My brain reeled round. I heard just faint echoes of "fuel" and "reduction works." What on earth was I to do? If I told Charles my suspicion--for it was only a suspicion--the fellow might turn upon me and disclose the cheque, which would suffice to ruin me. If I didn't, I ran a risk of being considered by Charles an accomplice and a confederate. The interview was long. I hardly know how I struggled through it. At the end young Granton went off, well satisfied, if it was young Granton; and Amelia invited him and his wife up to dinner at the castle.