"Don't be in such a hurry.

Can't you give me time to think about it ?" "You have had time enough already," growled Pierre.

"But I'll give you two minutes more, and while you are thinking the matter over, you can bear one thing in mind: and that is, if you don't tell me where that office key is, you'll never see daylight again." The expression on Pierre's countenance told Frank that the villain meant all he said.
Frank leaned his head against the wall, closed his eyes, and made use of those two minutes in trying to conjure up some plan to defeat the robber.

He had not the slightest intention of allowing him to put his hands on that money if it were possible for him to prevent it, and he was wondering if he could not make use of a little strategy.

If he could invent some excuse to get Pierre out of the room for a few moments, he was sure that he could release his hands.