Page:Buchan - The Thirty-Nine Steps (Grosset Dunlap, 1915).djvu/134

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.

ADVENTURE OF BALD ARCHÆOLOGIST

"So?" he said, still smiling. "But of course you have others. We won't quarrel about a name."

I was pulling myself together now and I reflected that my garb, lacking coat and waistcoat and collar, would, at any rate, not betray me. I put on my surliest face and shrugged my shoulders.

"I suppose you're going to give me up after all, and I call it a damned dirty trick. My God, I wish I had never seen that cursed motor-car! Here's the money and be damned to you," and I flung four sovereigns on the table.

He opened his eyes a little. "Oh, no, I shall not give you up. My friends and I will have a little private settlement with you, that is all. You know a little too much, Mr. Hannay. You are a clever actor, but not quite clever enough."

He spoke with assurance, but I could see the dawning of a doubt in his mind.

"O, for God's sake stop jawing," I cried. "Everything's against me. I haven't had a

129