"Yes?"
"Look here. There's—there's some funny business going about. You'll be very careful, won't you? For my sake."
He heard the quick note of alarm that sprang into her voice.
"Jimmy—but then it's dangerous—for you."
He laughed.
"Oh, that's all right. I'm the cat that had nine lives. Bye-bye, old thing."
He rang off and remained a minute or two lost in thought. Then he summoned Stevens.
"Do you think you could go out and buy me a pistol, Stevens?"
"A pistol, sir?"
True to his training, Stevens betrayed no hint of surprise.