I sure hurt you that time, Fernand.

John Mark it was, eh ?" Fernand could merely stare.

He began to have vague fears that this young devil might have hypnotic powers, or be in touch with he knew not what unearthly source of information.
"Out with it," said Ronicky, leaving his chair.
Frederic Fernand bit his lip in thought.

He was by no means a coward, and two alternatives presented themselves to him.

One was to say nothing and pretend absolute ignorance; the other was to drop his hand into his coat pocket and fire the little automatic which nestled there.
"Listen," said Ronicky Doone, "suppose I was to go a little farther still in my guesses! Suppose I said I figured out that John Mark and his men might be scattered around outside this house, waiting for me and Smith to come out: What would you say to that ?" "Nothing," said Fernand, but he blinked as he spoke.