"You can cancel it readily."
"I shall be most happy. How?"
I hesitated a moment and rose.
"By telling me what is the business of your communications with Mr. Peter Bolton."
We had come to such confidential terms on the matter of the maiden that Big Sam allowed himself to be surprised. His discomposure flashed in his eyes for but an instant, and was gone.
"I do not understand you," he said politely, rising in his turn.
"The memorandum that I brought might remind you," I said dryly.
I could see that I had risen a notch in Big Sam's estimation; and he was uncertain how much more I knew than was on the surface.
"You have the advantage of me," he said. "I furnished Mr. Bolton a thousand men three months ago, but we have had no transactions since. I wish you good morning. I shall expect you to-night between nine o'clock and midnight."
And he bowed me out.