"Mr. O'Bannon hasn't come to pay us a social visit, Benny," she said, and this time there was something unmistakably insolent in her tone.
O'Bannon decided to settle this whole question on the instant. He turned to Miss Bennett and said firmly, "I should like to speak to Miss Thorne alone."
"Of course," said Miss Bennett, already on her way to the door, which O'Bannon opened for her.
"No, Benny, Benny!" called Lydia, but O'Bannon had shut the door and leaned his shoulders against it.
"Listen to me!" he said. "You must be civil to me—that is, if you want me to stay here and try to get your jewels back."
Lydia wouldn't look at him.
"And what guaranty have I that if you do stay you can do anything about it?"
"I think I can get them, and I can assure you the sheriff can't." There was a long pause. "Well?" he said.
"Well what?" said Lydia, who hadn't been able to think what she was going to do.
"Will you be civil, or shall I go?"