Had it been a ruse?
Was this man a friend, a companion--even an accomplice of the thin-faced, frost-gnarled Thayer--and had his simple statement been an effort to take Barry off his guard?
If so, it had not succeeded, for Barry had made no admissions.

But it all affected him curiously; it nettled him and puzzled him.

For a long time he was silent, merely staring at the grinning features of Ba'tiste.

At last: "I should think you would wait until you could consult a doctor before you'd say a thing like that." "So?
It has been done." "And he told you--" "Nothing.

He does not need to even speak to Ba'teese." A great chuckle shook the big frame "Ba'teese know as soon as _l' M'sieu Doctaire_." "On good terms, aren't you?
When's he coming again ?" "_Parbleu_!" The big man snapped his fingers.