下载辰思小说免费APP
“Quiteso，mydearMr。Viner！“heagreedsmoothly。“Itwouldappear，then，fromwhatyousaythatIhavebeenmistaken-evenstupidlyso，Iamafraid。Andinthatcase，Icanonlyapologizeformyintrusion，and，asyousodelicatelyputit，getout。“Heslippedthepapers，withaphilosophicshrugofhisshoulders，intohisinsidecoatpocket，andtookabackwardsteptowardthedoor。“Ibidyougood-night，then，Mr。Viner。Thepapers，asyoustate，aredoubtlessofnovaluetoyou，soyoucan，ofcourse，havenoobjectiontomyhandingthemovertothepolice，who-“
“No，no！Wait！Wait！“theotherwhisperedwildly。“Wait！“
“Ah！“murmuredtheAdventurer。
“I-I’ll“-thebentoldfigurewasclawingathisbeard-“I’ll-“
“Buythem？“suggestedtheAdventurerpleasantly。
“Yes，I’ll-I’llbuythem。I-I’vegotalittlemoney，onlyalittle，allI’vebeenabletosaveinyears，a-ahundreddollars。
“Howmuchdidyousay？“inquiredtheAdventurercoldly。
“Twohundred。“Thevoicewasamaudlinwhine。
TheAdventurertookanotherbackwardsteptowardthedoor。
“Threehundred！“
Anotherstep。
“Five-athousand！“
TheAdventurerlaughedsuddenly。
“That’sbetter！“hesaid。“Whereyoukeepathousand，youkeeptherest。Whereisthethousand，Mr。Viner？“
Thebentfigurehesitatedamoment；andthen，withwhatsoundedlikeadespairingcry，pointedtothetable。
“It’sthere，“hewhimpered。“God’scursesonyou，forthethiefyouare。“
RhodaGrayfoundhereyesfixedinsudden，strainedfascinationonthetable-as，sheimagined，theAdventurer’sweretoo。Itwasbareofanycovering，norwerethereanyarticlesonitssurface，nor，asfarasshecouldsee，wasthereanydrawer。AndnowtheAdventurer，hisrighthandstillinhiscoatpocket，andbulgingtherewheresheknewquitewellitgraspedhisrevolver，steppedabruptlytothetable，facingtheotherwiththetablebetweenthem。
Thebentoldfigurestillhesitated，andthen，withthedespairingcryagain，graspedatthetopofthetable，andjerkedittowardhim。Thesurfaceseemedtoslidesidewaysalittleway，amatteroftwoorthreeinches，andthenstickthere；buttheAdventurer，inaninstant，hadthrustthefingersofhislefthandintothecrevice。Hedrewoutanumberofloosebanknotes，andthrusthisfingersinagainforafurthersupply。
“Openitwider！“hecommandedcurtly。
“I-I’mtryingto，“theothermumbled，andbentdowntopeerunderthetable。“It’sstuck。Thecatchisunderneath，and-“
ItseemedtoRhodaGray，gazingintothatdimlylightedroom，asthoughsheweresuddenlyheldspellboundasinsomehorribleandamazingtrance。Likeahideousjack-in-the-boxthegrayheadpoppedabovethelevelofthetableagain，andquickasaflash，arevolverwasthrustintotheAdventurer’sface；andtheAdventurer，caughtatadisadvantage，，sincehishandinhiscoatpocketwasbelowtheinterveningtabletop，stoodthereasthoughinstantaneouslytransformedintosomemotionless，inanimatething，hisfingersstillgrippingatanothersheafofbanknotesthathehadbeenintheactofscoopingoutfromthenarrowaperture。
AndthenagainRhodaGraystared，andstarednowasthoughbereftofhersenses；anduponhercrept，coldanddeadly，afearandaterro
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