With a couple of drawing-pins he fastened the drawing against the wall of the room, and proceeded to point out its merits once more to the two detectives. They knew but little about it, but strove to comprehend its mode of operation, rising from their seats and carefully inspecting the chart in question.
“Ah,” murmured Peace to himself, “I wish I was fairly out of this. The Yankee bloke seems ever and anon to look one through. He’s awfully cute—I do wish he’d go.”
After some further discussion the chart was rolled up again, and Peace placed it in his pocket, whereupon the three gentlemen sat down again.
“Wal, stranger,” said Shearman, addressing himself again to Peace, “as we are all here to ourselves, I’ll just give you an account of a bit of business I was engaged on in New York. It’s a true story, and there ain’t no tall talk in it.”
“I’m really very sorry,” observed Peace, “but I am afraid I shan’t have time.”
“Oh, bosh, I’ll trot it off as sharp and brisk as a donkey’s gallop. Here’s to our better acquaintance. I am glad to have met you, sir,” added the American, raising the glass to his lips.
“And I am equally glad to have met you, sir,” returned our hero, who wished the Yankee to the Antipodes. “But you must excuse me.”
“Sit down for another quarter of an hour,” said Shearman. “We shall be all three of us going at the expiration of that time. Come, light up—have another cigar.”
“Devil take these fellows!” murmured Peace to himself. “There is no getting out of their clutches.”
He, however, lighted up, and reluctantly consented to remain a little longer.