"Ah! I see you want money! Both of you--eh?" snapped Boyne.
"Possibly," was the hesitating reply. "But perhaps it would be to our better advantage to tell the police what we know."
"That's a threat!" cried Boyne indignantly. "I allow no man to threaten me!" he declared boldly. "Go back to Madame's house. You are welcome. I am not her keeper."
"I would prefer to deal with you first, M'sieur Bennett."
"I don't want to have any dealings with a person who holds out threats," was his answer. "Madame paid Céline because she dismissed her without notice," he went on carelessly. "Just act as you wish. And I wish you joy. But please don't bother me further."
He was turning away when the Frenchman rushed after him, and stood on the pavement before him.
"Is this your final decision?" he asked fiercely, as he barred Boyne's way.
"Yes. You've come here to blackmail me," replied Boyne; "but you'll not get a sou out of me. Why should I pay you anything? I don't know you! I've never seen you before in my life!"
"But you will be very pleased to settle," snarled the fellow in English.
"I shan't, and if you are not very careful I'll give you in charge of the police for attempted blackmail."
"You swine!" cried Galtier between his teeth.
"The same to you, my dear friend--and a size larger; a bigger breed!" laughed Boyne defiantly.
Both the man and the girl were silent for a few moments, when the latter suddenly broke out into a torrent of abuse and vituperation.
Her companion tried to calm her, but in French she cried loudly:
"These people are assassins! I know what I overheard on the night when poor Monsieur Martin died. They killed him! And he was always very good to me--poor M'sieur! Madame is a fiend!" she went on. "I do not want her dirty money. I want to see her pay the penalty which all those who murder should pay!"
Boyne saw that his bluff had not succeeded. He had to deal with a very perilous situation. A false step might lead them all to the Old Bailey. The pair had evidently been watching them, and were aware that his wife and Ena were both in the flat.
"Well," he laughed harshly, "you both appear to be on the wrong track. Céline has, it seems, suspicions about something which she once overheard. What it was, I do not know, because I wasn't there; but I tell you, both of you, that as far as I care you can go to the devil! I've nothing to ask of you--nothing to fear!