"I can explain, sair."
"Can you?" said Cullis, and his pale eyes never left the Italian's face. "I don't think you can explain in any way that will satisfy me. You're a traitor, and I have a way with traitors."
"But, if you will listen, sair—"
"Be quiet!"
Cullis dropped the words like two flakes of red-hot metal. He had been jumpy enough earlier in the evening, but now he was master of himself, and there was no humanity in his face.
He pointed to the floor where Gugliemi's gun, with the magazine beside it, still lay.
"You see that?" said Cullis.
Gugliemi nodded dumbly.
"You were loading it when the commissioner came in. When I came in just now you had woken up and finished loading it, and you were waiting for me. I had to shoot you in self-defense. Do you understand? It will be quite simple for me to put the magazine in the gun and put the gun in your hand when you have finished with your treacherous life."
His finger was tightening on the trigger even as he spoke. Gugliemi could see the whitening of the knuckle, and his eyes bulged wide with horror. Cullis saw the man's mouth open for a scream and grinned savagely.