“I’ve come,” said Packard, with an air of triumph.
“I see you have,” said Mescal coldly, showing his white teeth after the manner of a wolf.
“You do not appear glad to see me.”
“But I am glad—very glad,” said the man from the West, in a very singular way.
Packard paused, and a shiver ran over him. There was something deadly in the atmosphere.
“Sit down,” invited Mescal, in that same awesome manner, making a slight gesture toward a chair.
“I had a hard time getting the message,” began Packard awkwardly.
“Then you did get it?” asked Mescal.
“Yes. When I set out to do a thing, I have a way of doing it. But you do not seem much pleased.”
“I am pleased—very pleased. Go on. How did you get it?”