“Oh, no, you can’t! You’re forever doing things like that!”
“You know I was in earnest about giving Vance and the other rascal their dues. You know that, Bart.”
“Well, it was a surprise to me.”
“Still you know it, don’t you?”
“You seemed to be ready.”
“Exactly. It was not my fault that they escaped.”
Bart flushed and looked uncomfortable.
“I suppose it was my fault?” he cried, almost resentfully.
“I did not mean that. I do not blame you, Hodge.”
“I thought you did. I’d held onto Vance if those fool men hadn’t interfered. They gave him his chance, and he took it.”