"I should not advise it," he remarked. "Remember what came of your hasty action in Paris. Let me assure you that my way of retreat is well assured. Your ideas are inclined to be a little crude, Captain Hastings, if I may say so."
"You devil," I said, choking with rage, "you incarnate devil!"
"Heated—just a trifle heated. Your late lamented friend would have told you that a man who keeps calm has always a great advantage."
"You dare to speak of him," I cried. "The man you murdered so foully. And you come here—"
He interrupted me.
"I came here for an excellent and peaceful purpose. To advise you to return at once to South America. If you do so, that is the end of the matter as far as the Big Four are concerned. You and yours will not be molested in any way. I give you my word as to that."
I laughed scornfully.
"And if I refuse to obey your autocratic command?"
"It is hardly a command. Shall we say that it is—a warning?"
There was a cold menace in his tone.