He must satisfy himself that he would be quit of all future danger from this quarter.

Yet from whence was such assurance to come?
He might have it a hundred times over in Godfrey Mills's handwriting, but he could never produce that as evidence, since again the charge of fraudulent employment of clients' money would be in the air.

No doubt, of course, the blackmailer would be sentenced, but the cause of blackmail would necessarily be public.

No, there was no way out.
Two thousand pounds, though! Frugally and simply as he lived, that was to him a dreadful sum, and represented the savings of at least eighteen months.

This meant that there was for him another eighteen months of work, just when he hoped to see his retirement coming close to him.