"Chentleman!" was the contemptuous snort. "Chentleman—and never buy de drinks for nobody all de time he is in Crowheart. Fine chentleman dat!"
"When do you buy any?" was the pointed inquiry.
"I haf to work for my money; his comes easy," he replied significantly.
"You said that before." The voice was growing shriller. "How do you know?"
"Robbin's easy."
"I must believe it if you say so."
"Why you get mad? Why you stick up for him so hard?" persisted the Frenchman stubbornly.
"Why wouldn't I stick up for him? He's a friend of mine."
"Fine fren—dat lazy cheap-skate!" There was real venom in the voice.
Van Lennop heard the stamp of Essie Tisdale's small foot upon the hard-trodden dooryard.