is! And," whispered Burchill, rising and coming nearer to his
visitor, "it's a secret that will put you in possession of the whole of
the Herapath property! And--I know it."

Barthorpe had by this time realized the situation. And he was thinking
things over at a rapid rate. Burchill had asked Jacob Herapath for ten
thousand pounds as the price of his silence; therefore----

"And, of course, you want to make something out of your knowledge?" he
said presently.

"Of course," laughed Burchill. He opened a box of cigars, selected one
and carefully trimmed the end before lighting it. "Of course!" he
repeated. "Who wouldn't? Besides, you'll be in a position to afford me
something when you come into all that."

"The will?" suggested Barthorpe.

Burchill threw the burnt-out match into the fire.

"The will," he said slowly, "will be about as valuable as that--when
I've fixed things up with you. Valueless!"

"You mean it?" exclaimed Barthorpe incredulously. "Then--your signature?"

"Look here!" said Burchill. "The only thing between us is--terms! Fix
up terms with me, and I'll tell you the whole truth. And then--you'll
see!"

"Well--what terms?" demanded Barthorpe, a little suspiciously. "If you
want money down----"

"You couldn't pay in cash down what I want, nor anything like it," said
Burchill. "I may want an advance that you can pay--but it will only be
an advance. What I want is ten per cent. on the total value of Jacob
Herapath's property."

"Good heavens!" exclaimed Barthorpe. "Why I believe he'll cut up for a
good million and a half!"

"That's about the figure--as I've reckoned it," assented Burchill. "But
you'll have a lot left when you've paid me ten per cent."

Barthorpe fidgeted in his chair.

"When did you find out this secret?" he asked.

"Got an idea of it just before I left Jacob, and worked it all out, to
the last detail, after I left," replied Burchill. "I tell you this for a
certainty--when I've told you all I know, you'll know for an absolute
fact, that the Herapath property is--yours!"

"Well!" said Barthorpe. "What do you want me to do?"

Burchill moved across to a desk and produced some papers.

"I want you to sign certain documents," he said, "and then I'll tell you
the whole story. If the story's no good, the documents are no good.
How's that?"

"That'll do!" answered Barthorpe. "Let's get to business."

It was one o'clock in the morning when Barthorpe left Calengrove
Mansions.