By God, if you'd split on me to Mr Ducie, I'd have broken you. It might have...

By God, if you'd split on me to Mr Ducie, I'd have broken you. It might have cost me hundreds, but I've got them, and the police always back my sort against yours. You don't know. We'd have got you into quod, for blackmail, after which - I'd have blown out my brains.'
'Killed yourself? Death?'
'I should have known by that time that I loved you. Too late . . . everything's always too late.