“I think that I will go to bed now,” said Mr. Kuvetli hurriedly. “Good night, Messieurs-dame.” He went.
José sucked his teeth as if the game had left an unpleasant taste in his mouth. “Everyone goes to bed early on this filthy boat,” he said. “It is very boring.” He looked up at Graham. “Do you want to play?”
“I’m sorry to say that I must go to bed, too.”
José shrugged. “Very well. Good-bye.” He glanced at Josette and began to deal two hands. “I will play a game with you.”
She looked at Graham and smiled hopelessly. “If I do not he will be disagreeable. Good night, Monsieur.”
Graham smiled and said good night. He was not unrelieved.
He got to his cabin feeling a good deal more cheerful than he had felt when he had left it earlier in the evening.
How sensible she was! And how stupid he’d been! With men like Banat it was dangerous to be subtle. If a dog saw that you were nervous, he bit you. From now on he would carry the revolver. What was more, he would use it if Banat tried any funny business. You had to meet force with force.
He bent down to pull his suitcase from under the bunk. He was going to get the revolver out then and there.
Suddenly he stopped. For an instant his nostrils had caught the sweet cloying smell of attar of roses.