“Perhaps it would be as well to bury the past,” he said with an effort after a while. “In the lives of many men there are matters which it is not profitable to discuss. I can only add that I wish I had known of this before.”
Lawless got upon his feet, and stood stiffly upright, his face grim, and colourless under the sunburn, like the face of a man whose blood is at white heat with hardly repressed passion.
“Am I to understand that you dispense with my services?” he asked curtly.
Colonel Grey was somewhat slow in replying. Discretion weighed in the balance against a strong personal objection to working with the man, and won.
“I don’t know as to that,” he replied at last uncertainly. “We’ve gone so far... You have a dangerous knowledge... I prefer to have you on our side.”
“I see.” Lawless’ manner was icy. “Then, you mean me to go on with the job?”
“Yes, I think so... Yes! ... I do.”
“You don’t ask me whether I am satisfied to go on with it.”
His hearer’s eyebrows went up with a jerk.
“Why shouldn’t you?” he asked, surprised. “You’re well paid.”