"You suggest that that is what the fellow wished ?" "You can form your own opinion.

My point is that it would suit him if you didn't come back from this trip.

With nobody to dispute his statements, he'd prove he had a claim to all you own." Benson started.
"I believe he would stick at nothing! But I'm only one of the party; what would he gain if you and Blake came to grief ?" "That," said Harding evasively, "is not so clear." He glanced at his companion searchingly, and seeing that he suspected nothing, he decided not to enlighten him.

Benson seemed to have overcome his craving, but there was a possibility that he might relapse after his return to the settlement, and betray the secret in his cups.
Harding thought Clarke a dangerous man of unusual ability and abnormal character.

He had learned from Benson something of Blake's history, and had seen a chance for extorting money from Colonel Challoner.
Indeed, Clarke had made overtures to Blake on the subject, with the pretext of wishing to ascertain whether the latter were willing to seek redress, and had met with an indignant rebuff.