Murray heard my report in silence, and cast his eye over the surrounding scene before replying.
"It shall be done," he said at last. "Was ever a man so sorely tried by fate? Zooks! 'twill cost me a pretty penny and no slight effort to recoup my fortunes."
I regarded him with amazement.
"Do you think to be tolerated hereabouts in the future?" I asked.
"Hereabouts! It may be so; it may not be," he answered musingly. "But my star is no ordinary star, Master Ormerod. And despite my demerits, which seem to have impressed you unduly, if you will allow me to say so, I am not entirely without certain capacities which are valuable in adversity."
"The devil looks out for his own!" I ejaculated rudely.
"Needs must, if the devil drives," he countered. "Ah, well, we are simply headed toward another fruitless bicker. You are strangely burdened by that animus which the clergy dub conscience. Your judgment is biased."
"Where you are concerned."
"I fear so," he deplored. "Let us set a term to this debate. Does our treaty go into effect at once?"
"Yes."