“God! man, I know him intimately. We were in Rhodesia together.” He laughed harshly. “It is to him I owe the nickname that has stuck closer than my own. The former acquaintance may prove helpful.”
The Colonel peered at him closely.
“You have just reminded me that the nickname is all I know you by,” he said. “Simmonds could not recall your rightful title.”
“He is not singular in that respect,” was the curt response. “My name is Lawless.”
The Colonel stared at him blankly, his jaw fallen.
“Lawless!” he repeated, and for the life of him he could not prevent the sudden freeze in his manner. It even occurred to him at the moment that he was the victim of a trick. If so, he had walked into the trap fairly easily.
“It is a somewhat uncommon name,” he added. “Are you by any chance related to the lady of whom we have been speaking?”
The man he addressed returned his suspicious scrutiny with careless indifference.
“By marriage only,” he answered briefly.
The Colonel was only partially relieved.