earnest money

Well, good Monsieur Peyrolles, let us have that three hundred pistoles as earnest money for the larger sum.

I thought the least I could do was to make good to them on the earnest money they had forfeited, and they accepted it.

Then, having insisted on paying down a guinea for earnest-money, he took the keys and her directions for finding the house.

"Of course that is merely earnest-money," said the mistress of the house.

Well, if there is to be no earnest-money, at least we will have the vodka.