XIX + 

Unmasked + 

When there was no more light in the sky, a profound sigh escaped LanyardтАЩs lips; and with the gesture of one signifying submission to an omen, he turned and tramped heavily back across-town. + 

More automaton than sentient being, he plodded on along the second enceinte of flaring, noisy boulevards, now and again narrowly escaping annihilation beneath the wheels of some coursing motor-cab or ponderous, grinding omnibus. + 

Barely conscious of such escapes, he was altogether indifferent to them: it would have required a mortal hurt to match the dumb, sick anguish of his soul; more than merely a sunset sky had turned black for him within that hour. + 

The cold was now intense, and he none too warmly clothed; yet there was sweat upon his brows. + 

Dully there recurred to him a figure he had employed in one of his talks with Lucy Shannon: that, lacking his faith in her, there would be only emptiness beneath his feet. + 

And now that faith was wanting in him, had been taken from him for all his struggles to retain it; and now indeed he danced on emptiness, the rope of temptation tightening round his neck, the weight of criminal instincts pulling it tautтБатАФstrangling every right aspiration in him, robbing him of the very breath of that new life to which he had thought to give himself. + 

If she were not worthy, of what worth the fight?тБатАКтБатАж + 

At one stage of his journey, he turned aside and, more through habit than desire or design, entered a cheap eating-place and consumed his customary evening meal without the slightest comprehension of what he ate or whether the food were good or poor. + 

When he had finished, he hurried away like a haunted man. There was little room in his mood for sustained thought: his wits were fathoming a bottomless pit of black despair. He felt like a man born blind, through skilful surgery given the boon of sight for a day or two, and suddenly and without any warning thrust back again into darkness. + 

He knew only that his brief struggle had been all wasted, that behind the flimsy barrier of his honourable ambition, the Lone Wolf was ravening. And he felt that, once he permitted that barrier to be broken down, it could never be repaired. + 

He had set it up by main strength of will, for love of a woman. He must maintain it now for no incentive other than to retain his own good willтБатАФor resign himself utterly to that darkness out of which he had fought his way, to its powers that now beset his soul. + 

AndтБатАКтБатАж he didnтАЩt care. + 

Quite without purpose he sought the machine-shop where he had left his car. + 

He had no plans; but it was in his mind, a murderous thought, that before another dawn he might encounter Bannon. + 

Interim, he would go to work. He could think out his problem while driving as readily as in seclusion; whatever he might ultimately elect to do, he could accomplish little before midnight. + 

Toward seven oтАЩclock, with his machine in perfect running order, he took the seat and to the streets in a reckless humour, in the temper of a beast of prey. + 

The barrier was down: once more the Lone Wolf was on the prowl. + 

But for the present he controlled himself and acted perfectly his temporary role of taxi-bandit, fellow to those thousands who infest Paris. Half a dozen times in the course of the next three hours people hailed him from sidewalks and restaurants; he took them up, carried them to their several destinations, received payment, and acknowledged their gratuities with perfunctory thanksтБатАФthoroughly in characterтБатАФbut all with little conscious thought. + 

He saw but one thing, the face of Lucy Shannon, white, tense, glimmering wanly in shadowтБатАФthe countenance with which she had dismissed him. + 

He had but one thought, the wish to read the riddle of her bondage. To accomplish this he was prepared to go to any extreme; if Bannon and his crew came between him and his purpose, so much the worse for themтБатАФand, incidentally, so much the better for society. What might befall himself was of no moment. + 

He entertained but one design, to become again what he had been, the supreme adventurer, the prince of plunderers, to lose himself once more in the delirium of adventurous days and peril-haunted nights, to reincarnate the Lone Wolf and in his guise loot the world anew, to court forgetfulness even at the prisonтАЩs gates.тБатАКтБатАж + 

It was after ten when, cruising purposelessly, without a fare, he swung through the rue Auber into the place de lтАЩOp├йra and, approaching the Caf├й de la Paix, was hailed by a door-boy of that restaurant. + 

Drawing in to the curb with the careless address that had distinguished his every action of that evening, he waited, with a throbbing motor, and with mind detached and gaze remote from the streams of foot and wheeled traffic that brawled past on either hand. + 

After a moment two men issued from the revolving door of the caf├й, and approached the cab. Lanyard paid them no attention. His thoughts were now engaged with a certain h├┤tel particulier in the neighbourhood of La Muette and, in his preoccupation, he would need only the name of a destination and the sound of the cab-door slammed, to send him off like a shot. + 

Then he heard one of the men cough heavily, and in a twinkling stiffened to rigidity in his seat. If he had heard that cough but once before, that once had been too often. Without a glance aside, hardening his features to perfect immobility, he knew that the cough was shaking the slighter of those two figures. + 

And of a sudden he was acutely conscious of the clearness of the frosty atmosphere, of the merciless glare of electricity beating upon him from every side from the numberless street lamps and caf├й lights. And poignantly he regretted neglecting to mask himself with his goggles. + 

He wasnтАЩt left long in suspense. The coughing died away by spasms; followed the unmistakable, sonorous accents of Bannon. + 

тАЬWell, my dear boy! I have to thank you for an excellent dinner and a most interesting evening. Pity to break it up so early. Still, les affairesтБатАФyou know! Sorry youтАЩre not going my wayтБатАФbut thatтАЩs a handsome taxi youтАЩve drawn. WhatтАЩs its numberтБатАФeh?тАЭ + 

тАЬHavenтАЩt the faintest notion,тАЭ a British voice drawled in response. тАЬNever fret about a taxiтАЩs number until it has run over me.тАЭ + 

тАЬGreat mistake,тАЭ Bannon rejoined cheerfully. тАЬAlways take the number before entering. Then, if anything happensтБатАКтБатАж However, thatтАЩs a good-looking chap at the wheelтБатАФdoesnтАЩt look as if heтАЩd run you into any trouble.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, I fancy not,тАЭ said the Englishman, bored. + 

тАЬWell, you never can tell. The numberтАЩs on the lamp. Make a note of it and be on the safe side. Or trust meтБатАФI never forget numbers.тАЭ + 

With this speech Bannon ranged alongside Lanyard and looked him over, keenly malicious enjoyment gleaming in his evil old eyes. + 

тАЬYou are an honest-looking chap,тАЭ he observed with a mocking smile but in a tone of the most inoffensive admirationтБатАФтАЬhonest andтБатАФahтБатАФwhat shall I say?тБатАФwhatтАЩs the word weтАЩre all using nowadays?тБатАФefficient! Honest and efficient-looking, capable of better things, or IтАЩm no judge! Forgive an old manтАЩs candour, my friendтБатАФand take good care of our British cousin here. He doesnтАЩt know his way around Paris very well. Still, I feel confident heтАЩll come to no harm in your company. HereтАЩs a franc for you.тАЭ + 

With matchless effrontery, he produced a coin from the pocket of his fur-lined coat. + 

Unhesitatingly, permitting no expression to colour his features, Lanyard extended his palm, received the money, dropped it into his own pocket, and carried two fingers to the visor of his cap. + 

тАЬMerci, monsieur,тАЭ he said evenly. + 

тАЬAh, thatтАЩs the right spirit!тАЭ the deep voice jeered. тАЬNever be above your station, my manтБатАФnever hesitate to take a tip! Here, IтАЩll give you another, gratis: get out of this business: youтАЩre too good for it. DonтАЩt ask me how I know; I can tell by your faceтБатАФHello! Why do you turn down the flag? You havenтАЩt started yet!тАЭ + 

тАЬConversation goes up on the clock,тАЭ Lanyard replied stolidly in French. He turned and faced Bannon squarely, loosing a glance of venomous hatred into the otherтАЩs eyes. тАЬThe longer I have to stop here listening to your senile monologue, the more youтАЩll have to pay. What address, please?тАЭ he added, turning back to get a glimpse of his passenger. + 

тАЬH├┤tel Astoria,тАЭ the porter supplied. + 

тАЬVery good.тАЭ + 

The porter closed the door. + 

тАЬBut remember my advice,тАЭ Bannon counselled coolly, stepping back and waving his hand to the man in the cab. тАЬGood night.тАЭ + 

Lanyard took his car smartly away from the curb, wheeled round the corner into the boulevard des Capucines, and toward the rue Royale. + 

He had gone but a block when the window at his back was lowered and his fare observed pleasantly: + 

тАЬThat you, Lanyard?тАЭ + 

The adventurer hesitated an instant; then, without looking round, responded: + 

тАЬWertheimer, eh?тАЭ + 

тАЬRight-O! The old man had me puzzled for a minute with his silly chaffing. Stupid of me, too, because weтАЩd just been talking about you.тАЭ + 

тАЬHad you, though!тАЭ + 

тАЬRather. HadnтАЩt you better take me where we can have a quiet little talk?тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩm not conscious of the necessityтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬOh, I say!тАЭ Wertheimer protested amiablyтБатАФтАЬdonтАЩt be shirty, old top. Give a chap a chance. Besides, I have a bit of news from Antwerp that I guarantee will interest you.тАЭ + 

тАЬAntwerp?тАЭ Lanyard iterated, mystified. + 

тАЬAntwerp, where the ships sail from,тАЭ Wertheimer laughed: тАЬnot Amsterdam, where the diamonds flock together, as you may know.тАЭ + 

тАЬI donтАЩt follow you, IтАЩm afraid.тАЭ + 

тАЬI shanтАЩt elucidate until weтАЩre under cover.тАЭ + 

тАЬAll right. Where shall I take you?тАЭ + 

тАЬAny quiet caf├й will do. You must know oneтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬThanksтБатАФno,тАЭ said Lanyard dryly. тАЬIf I must confabulate with gentlemen of your kidney, I prefer to keep it dark. Even dressed as I am, I might be recognized, you know.тАЭ + 

But it was evident that Wertheimer didnтАЩt mean to permit himself to be ruffled. + 

тАЬThen will my modest diggings do?тАЭ he suggested pleasantly. тАЬIтАЩve taken a suite in the rue Vernet, just back of the H├┤tel Astoria, where we can be as private as you please, if youтАЩve no objection.тАЭ + 

тАЬNone whatever.тАЭ + 

Wertheimer gave him the number and replaced the window.тБатАКтБатАж + 

His rooms in the rue Vernet proved to be a small ground-floor apartment with private entrance to the street. + 

тАЬTook the tip from you,тАЭ he told Lanyard as he unlocked the door. тАЬI daresay youтАЩd be glad to get back to that rez-de-chauss├йe of yours. Ripping place, that.тБатАКтБатАж By the wayтБатАФjudging from your apparently robust state of health, you havenтАЩt been trying to live at home of late.тАЭ + 

тАЬIndeed?тАЭ + 

тАЬIndeed yes, monsieur! If I may presume to adviseтБатАФIтАЩd pull wide of the rue Roget for a whileтБатАФfor as long, at least, as you remain in your present intractable temper.тАЭ + 

тАЬDaresay youтАЩre right,тАЭ Lanyard assented carelessly, following, as Wertheimer turned up the lights, into a modest salon cosily furnished. тАЬYou live here alone, I understand?тАЭ + 

тАЬQuite: make yourself perfectly at ease; nobody can hear us. And,тАЭ the Englishman added with a laugh, тАЬdo forget your pistol, Mr.┬аLanyard. IтАЩm not Popinot, nor is this TroyonтАЩs.тАЭ + 

тАЬStill,тАЭ Lanyard countered, тАЬyouтАЩve just been dining with Bannon.тАЭ + 

Wertheimer laughed easily. тАЬHad me there!тАЭ he admitted, unabashed. тАЬI take it you know a bit more about the Old Man than you did a week ago?тАЭ + 

тАЬPerhaps.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut sit down: take that chair there, which commands both doors, if you donтАЩt trust me.тАЭ + 

тАЬDo you think I ought to?тАЭ + 

тАЬHardly. Otherwise IтАЩd ask you to take my word that youтАЩre safe for the time being. As it is, I shanтАЩt be offended if you keep your gun handy and your sense of self-preservation running under forced draught. But you wonтАЩt refuse to join me in a whiskey and soda?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo,тАЭ said Lanyard slowlyтБатАФтАЬnot if you drink from the same bottle.тАЭ + 

Again the Englishman laughed unaffectedly as he fetched a decanter, glasses, bottled soda, and a box of cigarettes, and placed them within LanyardтАЩs reach. + 

The adventurer eyed him narrowly, puzzled. He knew nothing of this man, beyond his reputationтБатАФsomething unsavoury enough, in all conscience!тБатАФhad seen him only once, and then from a distance, before that conference in the rue Chaptal. And now he was becoming sensitive to a personality uncommonly insinuating: Wertheimer was displaying all the poise of an Englishman of the better caste. More than anybody in the underworld that Lanyard had ever known this blackmailer had an air of one acquainted with his own respect. And his nonchalance, the good nature with which he accepted LanyardтАЩs pardonable distrust, his genial assumption of fellowship and a common footing, attracted even as it intrigued. + 

With the easy courtesy of a practised host, he measured whiskey into LanyardтАЩs glass till checked by a тАЬThank you,тАЭ then helped himself generously, and opened the soda. + 

тАЬIтАЩll not ask you to drink with me,тАЭ he said with a twinkle, тАЬbutтБатАФchin-chin!тАЭтБатАФand tilting his glass, half-emptied it at a draught. + 

Muttering formally, at a disadvantage and resenting it, Lanyard drank with less enthusiasm if without misgivings. + 

Wertheimer selected a cigarette and lighted it at leisure. + 

тАЬWell,тАЭ he laughed through a cloud of smokeтБатАФтАЬI think weтАЩre fairly on our way to an understanding, considering you told me to go to hell when last we met!тАЭ + 

His spirit was irresistible: in spite of himself Lanyard returned the smile. тАЬI never knew a man to take it with better grace,тАЭ he admitted, lighting his own cigarette. + 

тАЬWhy not! I liked it: you gave us precisely what we asked for.тАЭ + 

тАЬThen,тАЭ Lanyard demanded gravely, тАЬif thatтАЩs your viewpoint, if youтАЩre decent enough to see it that wayтБатАФwhat the devil are you doing in that galley?тАЭ + 

тАЬMischief makes strange bedfellows, youтАЩll admit. And if you think that a fair questionтБатАФwhat are you doing here, with me?тАЭ + 

тАЬSame excuse as beforeтБатАФtrying to find out what your game is.тАЭ + 

Wertheimer eyed the ceiling with an intimate grin. тАЬMy dear fellow!тАЭ he protestedтБатАФтАЬall you want to know is everything!тАЭ + 

тАЬMore or less,тАЭ Lanyard admitted gracelessly. тАЬOne gathers that you mean to stop this side the Channel for some time.тАЭ + 

тАЬHow so?тАЭ + 

тАЬThereтАЩs a settled, personal atmosphere about this establishment. It doesnтАЩt look as if half your things were still in trunks.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, these digs! Yes, they are comfy.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou donтАЩt miss London?тАЭ + 

тАЬRather! But I shall appreciate it all the more when I go back.тАЭ + 

тАЬThen you can go back, if you like?тАЭ + 

тАЬMeaning your impression is, I made it too hot for me?тАЭ Wertheimer interposed with a quizzical glance. тАЬI shanтАЩt tell you about that. But IтАЩm hoping to be able to run home for an occasional weekend without vexing Scotland Yard. Why not come with me some time?тАЭ + 

Lanyard shook his head. + 

тАЬCome!тАЭ the Englishman rallied him. тАЬDonтАЩt put on so much side. IтАЩm not bad company. Why not be sociable, since weтАЩre bound to be thrown together more or less in the way of business.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, I think not.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut, my dear chap, you canтАЩt keep this up. Playing taxiway man is hardly your shop. And of course you understand you wonтАЩt be permitted to engage in any more profitable pursuit until you make terms with the powers that beтБатАФor leave Paris.тАЭ + 

тАЬTerms with Bannon, De┬аMorbihan, Popinot and yourselfтБатАФeh?тАЭ + 

тАЬWith the same.тАЭ + 

тАЬMr.┬аWertheimer,тАЭ Lanyard told him quietly, тАЬnone of you will stop me if ever I make up my mind to take the field again.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou havenтАЩt been thinking of quitting itтБатАФwhat?тАЭ Wertheimer demanded innocently, opening his eyes wide. + 

тАЬPerhapsтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬAh, now I begin to see a light! So thatтАЩs the reason youтАЩve come down to tooling a taxi. I wondered! But somehow, Mr.┬аLanyardтАЭтБатАФWertheimerтАЩs eyes narrowed thoughtfullyтБатАФтАЬI can hardly see you content with that lineтБатАКтБатАж even if this reform notion isnтАЩt simple swank!тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, what do you think?тАЭ + 

тАЬI think,тАЭ the Englishman laughedтБатАФтАЬI think this conference doesnтАЩt get anywhere in particular. Our simple, trusting natures donтАЩt seem to fraternize as spontaneously as they might. We may as well cut the sparring and go, down to businessтБатАФdonтАЩt you think? But before we do, IтАЩd like your leave to offer one word of friendly advice.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd that isтБатАФ?тАЭ + 

тАЬтАКтАЩWare Bannon!тАЭ + 

Lanyard nodded. тАЬThanks,тАЭ he said simply. + 

тАЬI say that in all sincerity,тАЭ Wertheimer declared. тАЬGod knows youтАЩre nothing to me, but at least youтАЩve played the game like a man; and I wonтАЩt see you butchered to make an Apache holiday for want of warning.тАЭ + 

тАЬBannonтАЩs as vindictive as that, you think?тАЭ + 

тАЬHolds you in the most poisonous regard, if you ask me. Perhaps you know why: I donтАЩt. Anyway, it was rotten luck that brought your car to the door tonight. He named you during dinner, and while apparently he doesnтАЩt know where to look for you, it is plain heтАЩs got no use for youтБатАФnot, at least, until your attitude towards the organization changes.тАЭ + 

тАЬIt hasnтАЩt. But IтАЩm obliged.тАЭ + 

тАЬSure you canтАЩt see your way to work with us?тАЭ + 

тАЬAbsolutely.тАЭ + 

тАЬMind you, IтАЩll have to report to the Old Man. IтАЩve got to tell him your answer.тАЭ + 

тАЬI donтАЩt think I need tell you what to tell him,тАЭ said Lanyard with a grin. + 

тАЬStill, itтАЩs worth thinking over. I know the Old ManтАЩs mind well enough to feel safe in offering you any inducement you can name, in reason, if youтАЩll come to us. Ten thousand francs in your pocket before morning, if you like, and freedom to chuck this filthy job of yoursтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬPlease stop there!тАЭ Lanyard interrupted hotly. тАЬI was beginning to like you, tooтБатАКтБатАж Why persist in reminding me youтАЩre intimate with the brute who had Roddy butchered in his sleep?тАЭ + 

тАЬPoor devil!тАЭ Wertheimer said gently. тАЬThat was a sickening business, I admit. But who told youтБатАФ?тАЭ + 

тАЬNever mind. ItтАЩs true, isnтАЩt it?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes,тАЭ the Englishman admitted gravelyтБатАФтАЬitтАЩs true. It lies at BannonтАЩs door, when allтАЩs said.тБатАКтБатАж Perhaps you wonтАЩt believe me, but itтАЩs a fact I didnтАЩt know positively who was responsible till tonight.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou donтАЩt really expect me to swallow that? You were hand-in-gloveтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬAh, but on probation only! When they voted Roddy out, I wasnтАЩt consulted. They kept me in the darkтБатАФmostly, I flatter myself, because I draw the line at murder. If I had knownтБатАФthis you wonтАЩt believe, of courseтБатАФRoddy would be alive today.тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩd like to believe you,тАЭ Lanyard admitted. тАЬBut when you ask me to sign articles with that damned assassinтБатАФ!тАЭ + 

тАЬYou canтАЩt play our game with clean hands,тАЭ Wertheimer retorted. + 

Lanyard found no answer to that. + 

тАЬIf youтАЩve said all you wished to,тАЭ he suggested, rising, тАЬI can assure you my answer is finalтБатАФand go about my business.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhatтАЩs your hurry? Sit down. ThereтАЩs more to sayтБатАФmuch more.тАЭ + 

тАЬAs for instanceтБатАФ?тАЭ + 

тАЬI had a fancy you might like to put a question or two.тАЭ + 

Lanyard shook his head; it was plain that Wertheimer designed to draw him out through his interest in Lucy Shannon. + 

тАЬI havenтАЩt the slightest curiosity concerning your affairs,тАЭ he observed. + 

тАЬBut you should have; I could tell you a great many interesting things that intimately affect your affairs, if I liked. You must understand that I shall hold the balance of power here, from now on.тАЭ + 

тАЬCongratulations!тАЭ Lanyard laughed derisively. + 

тАЬNo joke, my dear chap: IтАЩve been promoted over the heads of your friends, De┬аMorbihan and Popinot, and shall henceforth beтБатАФas they say in AmericaтБатАФthe whole works.тАЭ + 

тАЬBy what warrant?тАЭ + 

тАЬThe illustrious BannonтАЩs. IтАЩve been appointed his lieutenantтБатАФvice Greggs, deposed for bungling.тАЭ + 

тАЬDo you mean to tell me Bannon controls De┬аMorbihan and Popinot?тАЭ + 

The Englishman smiled indulgently. тАЬIf you didnтАЩt know it, heтАЩs commander-in-chief of our allied forces, presiding genius of the International Underworld Unlimited.тАЭ + 

тАЬBosh!тАЭ cried Lanyard contemptuously. тАЬWhy talk to me as if I were a child, to be frightened by a bogey-tale like that?тАЭ + 

тАЬTake it or leave it: the fact remains.тБатАКтБатАж I know, if you donтАЩt. I confess I didnтАЩt till tonight; but IтАЩve learned some things that have opened my eyes.тБатАКтБатАж You see, we had a table in a quiet corner of the Caf├й de la Paix, and since the Old ManтАЩs sailing for home before long it was time for him to unbosom rather thoroughly to the man he leaves to represent him in London and Paris. I never suspected our power before he began to talk.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

Lanyard, watching the man closely, would have sworn he had never seen one more sober. He was indescribably perplexed by this ostensible candourтБатАФmystified and mistrustful. + 

тАЬAnd then thereтАЩs this to be considered, from your side,тАЭ Wertheimer resumed with the most businesslike manner: тАЬyou can work with us without being obliged to deal in any way with the Old Man or De┬аMorbihan, or Popinot. Bannon will never cross the Atlantic again, and you can do pretty much as you like, within reasonтБатАФsubject to my approval, that is.тАЭ + 

тАЬOne of us is mad,тАЭ Lanyard commented profoundly. + 

тАЬOne of us is blind to his best interests,тАЭ Wertheimer amended with entire good-humour. + 

тАЬPerhapsтБатАКтБатАж Let it go at that. IтАЩm not interestedтБатАФnever did care for fairy tales.тАЭ + 

тАЬDonтАЩt go yet. There is still much to be said on both sides of the argument.тАЭ + 

тАЬHas there been one?тАЭ + 

тАЬBesides, I promised you news from Antwerp.тАЭ + 

тАЬTo be sure,тАЭ Lanyard said, and paused, his curiosity at length engaged. + 

Wertheimer delved into the breast-pocket of his dress-coat and produced a blue telegraph-form, handing it to the adventurer. + 

Of even date, from Antwerp, it read: + 

UnderworldтБатАФParisтБатАФGreggs arrested today boarding steamer for America after desperate struggle killed himself immediately afterward poison no confessionтБатАФQ-2. + 

тАЬUnderworld?тАЭ Lanyard queried blankly. + 

тАЬOur telegraphic address, of course. тАШQ-2тАЩ is our chief factor in Antwerp.тАЭ + 

тАЬSo they got Greggs!тАЭ + 

тАЬStupid oaf,тАЭ Wertheimer observed; тАЬIтАЩve no sympathy for him. The whole affair was a blunder, from first to last.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut you got Greggs out and burned TroyonтАЩsтБатАФ!тАЭ + 

тАЬStill our friends at the Pr├йfecture werenтАЩt satisfied. Something must have roused their suspicions.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou donтАЩt know what?тАЭ + 

тАЬThere must have been a leak somewhereтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬIf so, it would certainly have led the police to me, after all the pains you were at to saddle me with the crime. ThereтАЩs something more than simple treachery in this, Mr.┬аWertheimer.тАЭ + 

тАЬPerhaps youтАЩre right,тАЭ said the other thoughtfully. + 

тАЬAnd it doesnтАЩt speak well for the discipline of your precious organizationтБатАФgranting, for the sake of the argument, the possibility of such nonsense.тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, well, have your own way about that. I donтАЩt insist, so long as you agree to join forces with me.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, itтАЩs with you alone, nowтБатАФis it? Not with that insane fiction, the International Underworld Unlimited?тАЭ + 

тАЬWith me alone. I offer you a clear field. Go where you like, do what you willтБатАФI wouldnтАЩt have the cheek to attempt to guide or influence you.тАЭ + 

Lanyard kept himself in hand with considerable difficulty. + 

тАЬBut you?тАЭ he asked. тАЬWhere do you come in?тАЭ + 

Wertheimer lounged back in his chair and laughed quietly. тАЬNeed you ask? Must I recall to you the foundations of my prosperity? You had the name of it glib enough on your tongue the other night in the rue Chaptal.тБатАКтБатАж When youтАЩve done your work, youтАЩll come to me and split the proceeds fairlyтБатАФand as long as you do that, never a word will pass my lips!тАЭ + 

тАЬBlackmailтБатАКтБатАжтАК!тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, if you insist! Odd, how I dislike that word!тАЭ + 

Abruptly the adventurer got to his feet. тАЬBy God!тАЭ he cried, тАЬIтАЩd better get out of this before I do you an injury!тАЭ + 

The door slammed behind him on a room ringing with WertheimerтАЩs unaffected laughter. + 