“And that is—no, no, Mr. Brander; not half the value of the stone?”
“It’s a damned risky business, Mr. Tuke. I play my life against a competence.”
“But, listen, my friend. What claim has any one of you to a share in the ruby?”
“If it comes to that, what claim have you?”
“None whatever.”
“See here, sir. The man was one of us. The stone was fair spoil for division—not the perquisite of a single master-rogue. It was no appendage, conditional on your acquisition of the property—now, was it?”
“You know all about it, I see. Well, Mr. Brander, your boy there’s getting impatient.”
The long man’s jaw hung slack while he rubbed it, and a very evil look came into his eyes.
“Is that tantamount to saying you decline to treat?” he said.
“Your boy, Mr. Brander. I yield you precedence of the road, sir.”