Over the course of those months, while the affair took place, James Reynolds was well aware of his wife's unfaithfulness. He continually supported their relationship to regularly gain blackmail money from Hamilton. In the Reynolds Pamphlet, Hamilton goes as far as to argue that James Reynolds, along with his wife, conspired the scheme to, in Hamilton's own words, "extort money from me."[2] The common practice in the day was for the wronged husband to seek retribution in a pistol duel, but Reynolds, realizing how much Hamilton had to lose if this activity came into public view, insisted on monetary compensation instead.[3] In fact after Hamilton had shown unequivocal signs that he wanted to end the affair in the autumn of 1791[4] Hamilton received two letters on December 15, 1791, one each from Mrs. and Mr. Reynolds.[5] The first letter, from Maria,[6] warned of her husband's knowledge and of James' attempting to blackmail Hamilton.