As just said, I will make you this liberal offer:--Let me have the child now, and for the next two years I will pay you the same that you have been receiving for her maintenance." Claire lifted his head quickly.

There was already a flush on his cheeks and a sharp light in his eyes.
"Stay--one moment," interrupted Jasper, who saw by the motion of his lips that he was about replying.

"I will pay you the whole sum, six hundred dollars, in advance, and, in addition thereto, pledge myself to procure for you, within three mouths, a situation worth a thousand dollars per annum, at least." This was too broad an attempt to buy over the young man, and it failed.

Starting to his feet, with a feeling of indignation in his heart so strong that he could not repress it, he answered, with knit brows and eyes fixed sternly and steadily on the merchant--"Leonard Jasper! I thought you knew me better! I am not to be bought with your money." As sudden was the change that passed over the merchant.

He, too, sprang to his feet, and conscious that his offer of bribery, which he had humiliated himself to make, had failed, with clenched hand and set teeth, he fairly hissed out-- "You'll rue this day and hour, Edward Claire--rue it even to the moment of death! I will never forget nor forgive the wrong and insult.
Don't think to escape me--don't think to foil me.