Bellshaw smiled when he heard the name of his visitor.
"Show him up," he said, and added to himself, "I thought he'd never be such an ass as to throw a chance away."
Glen entered the room. The only greeting he gave was a nod. He took a chair without being asked, and threw his hat on the table, then leaned back and looked at Bellshaw.
"So you've come to your senses," said Bellshaw. "It's lucky for you the office was closed on Saturday night, or my orders to scratch Barellan would have gone in. There's the letter," and he threw it across the table to him.
Much to Bellshaw's surprise, which quickly changed to anger, Glen Leigh tore it up and let the pieces flutter on the table.
"Damn your impertinence. What do you mean by that?" roared Bellshaw.
A tap at the door. A waiter put in his head.
"What do you mean by it?" asked Bellshaw again.
"It's a silly useless letter, because you will not scratch Barellan," answered Glen.
Bellshaw simmered down. Leigh had come to make terms; they must be liberal.
"Useless because you are going to make a proposal," said Bellshaw.
"How much will you give me out of the sweep?"
Bellshaw flared up again, swore roundly, talked fast and furiously, all to no purpose. Leigh sat immovable, lit a cigar and waited until he was exhausted.
"Would you like to hear my proposition?" asked Glen calmly.
"Not if it doesn't refer to sweep money."
"You'd better, for your own sake. It's rather important to you," said Glen.
"Nothing you have to say, outside the matter at issue, can interest me," returned Bellshaw.
Glen smiled at him. It was the most irritating thing he could do.
"I shall sit here until you listen to what I have to say," he said.
His manner was determined. He looked stubborn, and was more than a match for Craig Bellshaw, as far as strength went. He got up and locked the door, putting the key in his pocket.
"What I have to say you would not like anyone to hear. Besides I don't want you to bolt out of the room."
"Get along with it then," growled Bellshaw, "but I assure you beforehand you are wasting your time."
"Oh no, I am not. You'll say so when I've done. You'll consider it rather a clever move on my part and that the time was very well occupied. It's about a woman," blurted out Glen suddenly.