In the same way one can lose all capacity for
astonishment, I suppose. I don't think I manifested much surprise at
this unexpected meeting; and I heard myself remarking quite coolly that
there had been a mistake, that I had been told downstairs that a friend
of mine was here.
"That's right, Mr. Bayne," cut in Van Blarcom shortly. "I've been a
friend of yours clear through, and I'm acting as one now. Just a minute,
sir, please!"
He had shut the door between ourselves and the officers, and now he
was drawing the shutters close. Coming back into the room, he seated
himself, and motioned me toward a chair, which I didn't take. His
authoritative manner was, I must say, not unimpressive. And he knew
how to arrange a rather crude stage-setting; the room, with all air and
sound excluded, seemed tense and breathless; the one dim candle on the
table lent a certain solemnity to the scene.
"Look here, Mr. Bayne," he began bluffly, "last time you spoke to me
you told me to--Well, we'll let bygones by bygones; I guess you remember
what you said. You don't like me, and I'm not wasting any love on you;
as far as you're personally concerned, I'd just as soon see you hang!
But I've got to think of the United States.
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