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Updated: June 6, 2025
The three other men came instantly to attention and exchanged glances. There was a pause. Then Mr. Torrington said: "Indeed! Oh, very well delightful," and he replaced the receiver. "What's happened?" Almont demanded. "I don't entirely know. But it appears that Van Diest and his amiable colleague Hipps, are shortly paying us a visit here." There was a moment of consternation.
"It rests with us to decide whether or no we will accept their terms or take a chance." "Don't forget the chance is Barraclough," cried Cranbourne, then swinging round on Hipps, he demanded: "What are the odds against him?" "Steep," was the laconical rejoinder. Cranbourne hesitated a bare second. "Accept their terms," said he. "In favour?" "Of course in favour."
And with a polite bow he turned and mingled with the crowd. "Can't quite get the strength of all that," observed Hipps as he and Van Diest passed out of the main door, "but one thing sticks out a mile. We can't hold our prisoner indefinitely. He must be made to talk right away." "Dis evening we make the big effort." "And assumin' it fails?" "Dat would be a peety such a peety."
In direct antithesis to this wolfish feeding were the manners of Oliver Laurence. He toyed with his victuals, cutting them into the littlest pieces and almost flirting with his glass of wine. Ezra P. Hipps ate and drank, as he did everything else in life thoroughly and with conviction.
"My dear old fellow," Laurence spoke over his shoulder, "that depends entirely on yourself." There was deeper significance in the tone than in the words. "That's cordial," said Richard, "downright hostly." "But paste this in your hat," said Hipps ominously. "Conditions won't improve by outstaying your welcome. It'll be sweet if you make it short if not " He did not complete the sentence.
He marched heavily up the stairs and entered Richard's room. Blayney was on duty sprawling watchful on a camp bed, his elbows propped on a kit bag. "Get out, you," said Hipps, and the man obeyed. Then he turned to Richard. The last few days had wrought a desperate change in his looks. Caverns had sunk in his cheeks and his eyes were ringed with black.
He dropped off two or three times and I got the chaps to spray him with cold water. That kept him lively. Blayney and Parker are sleeping in the room now and taking shifts to watch him at night. Awfully sorry, you two, but I've done my best." "I'll get right up," said Ezra P. Hipps. "Say, Auriole'll be along presently. Tell her to stand by. She may come in useful."
Hipps' long fingers had closed scientifically on the back of Richard's neck and were paralysing the movements of his head. His nose was pressed good and hard into the pile of the carpet. It was all very painful. "Are you going to quit fighting, Anthony?" After all there was no particular value in adding to one's discomfort. They were three to one and in a locked room with reinforcements outside.
The speaker was a big, broad-shouldered American of the thruster school, heavy jaw, black hair and hurry. He held his gun dead rigid against his thigh and there was that in his eyes which foretold that where he looked he could hit. This was Ezra P. Hipps. "Set down and don't move this thing goes off," he said. Richard considered the proposal and the speaker and judged both to be sound.
Torrington waited for Cranbourne to return before giving Doran instructions to show in the gentlemen. To Cassis' unspoken protest he replied: "They evidently have some information which we lack. It would be wise to find out what it is." Ezra P. Hipps was first to enter. He came in like a triumphant army occupying captured territory.
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