“I have confided in you so much, Mr Lawless,” he said, “that you will readily understand how unwelcome this intelligence is. Had I known of the connection sooner I should have hesitated to speak so freely of a matter that is as a sacred trust to me—”
“You need not let what you have just learnt trouble you, sir,” the other returned carelessly. “Nothing that you have told me so far would be news to the other side. As for the connection!”—he flicked his fingers scornfully,—“it need weigh with you no more than that... The lady disapproves of me. We have not met for years.”
“Perhaps, though, since a connection of yours is mixed up in this affair you might not care to go on with it...”
“It makes no difference,” Lawless answered.
The Colonel reached across the table.
“You are throwing in your lot with me?” he asked quickly.
The other’s hand met his.
“I’ll get those papers back for you, or I’ll kill your man,” he said.