Yassilievich jerked a remark which we could not understand from the corner of his mouth, but Hilyer waved it aside.
"Go at the narrow ditch first, Serge. There'll be plenty of time for the water-jump. I'm not tryin' to bluff you and your friends, Chesby. I don't have to. As I told you this morning, I have an ace in my sleeve. Bein' a gambler, that's my habit."
"So I've heard," said Hugh with cutting emphasis.
Hilyer never changed color, only eyed him curiously.
"You do get down on a fellow, don't you?" he commented. "As you know by now, there's but one way to dust me. You tried it once, and I haven't forgotten. I've a convenient memory of my own.
"Well, never mind. The fact is, you are stumped just is much as we are. We are plugging around the course, and neither one of us can jockey a horse clear of the field. It's damn nonsense. Gets nobody anywhere. Sensible thing to do is to lay cards on the table, and make a deal."
"Put down your hand," said Hugh evenly.
"The treasure is somewhere around Tokalji's house," answered Hilyer promptly. "That's certain. To get to it you've got to get into Tokalji's house. What's more, you've got to be able to stay a while in Tokalji's house. And you can't do it. You haven't got a chance of doing it! But let's suppose a miracle happened, and you found the chance." He dropped his cigarette, and leaned forward, driving his clenched fist into his palm to emphasize every word. "Still, we've got you stopped. How? Hilmi's friend, Mahkouf Pasha. We've made arrangements with him, whereby in the event that we give up hope of any better deal, we denounce you and your treasure to him. He will then convey the information to the Imperial Government, and in return for his public service and for our assistance, he and we will be presented with a stipulated percentage of the treasure, as recovered."
He sat back on the couch, and crossed his knees.
"Those are good cards, providing they are played right," Hugh admitted. "But how is the Imperial Government going to secure the treasure's location from us?"