You can get your fun just the same.
A lovely woman isn't like a motor tyre, she doesn't wear out.
The more you use her the better she goes.
Now, Max, I've laid all my cards on the table.
Why can't we come to some agreement?
I'm not a rich man.
I'm too fond of gambling for that.
But what gets me down is never having any capital to fall back upon.
Now if I had a settlement of two or three thousand a year for life I could jog along comfortably.
And I'd never trouble you again.
I swear before God I would not.'
'I've asked you before to leave the house,' said Maxim.
'I'm not going to ask you again.
There's the door behind me.
You can open it yourself.'
'Haifa minute, Maxim,' said Frank; 'it's not quite so easy as all that.'
He turned to Favell.
'I see what you're driving at.
It happens, very unfortunately, that you could, as you say, twist things round and make it difficult for Maxim.
I don't think he sees it as clearly as I do.
What is the exact amount you propose Maxim should settle on you?'
I saw Maxim go very white, and a little pulse began to show on his forehead.
'Don't interfere with this, Frank,' he said, 'this is my affair entirely.
I'm not going to give way to blackmail.'
'I don't suppose your wife wants to be pointed out as Mrs de Winter, the widow of a murderer, of a fellow who was hanged,' said Favell.
He laughed, and glanced towards me.
'You think you can frighten me, don't you, Favell?' said Maxim.
'Well, you are wrong. I'm not afraid of anything you can do.
There is the telephone, in the next room.
Shall I ring up Colonel Julyan and ask him to come over?
He's the magistrate.
He'll be interested in your story.'
Favell stared at him, and laughed.
'Good bluff,' he said, 'but it won't work.
You wouldn't dare ring up old Julyan.
I've got enough evidence to hang you, Max, old man.'
Maxim walked slowly across the room and passed through to the little room beyond.
I heard the click of the telephone.
'Stop him!' I said to Frank.
'Stop him, for God's sake.'
Frank glanced at my face, he went swiftly towards the door.
I heard Maxim's voice, very cool, very calm.
'I want Kerrith 17,' he said.
Favell was watching the door, his face curiously intense.
'Leave me alone,' I heard Maxim say to Frank.
And then, two minutes afterwards. 'Is that Colonel Julyan speaking?
It's de Winter here.
Yes.
Yes, I know.
I wonder if you could possibly come over here at once.