"What is this I hear about the arrest of the man Frisco?" he asked.
"Just this doctor," replied Kidd in his heavy voice but civilly enough "Don Manuel Santiago gave Belcher the tip how Frisco could be trapped, and as me and him wanted to earn the reward, we fixed the matter up."
"Against my wish," retorted Dr. Jim, "did I not say, that you were not to meddle in the matter?"
"And why shouldn't we get the reward if we could sir?"
"I had my own reasons that Frisco should be left at large. You have spoilt a plan of mine, and likely as not have caught the wrong man."
"As to that sir," said Kidd doggedly, "I don't know. But right or wrong we've caught the man and claim the reward."
"It is offered by Mr. Stephen Marsh-Carr," said Herrick coolly, "and the matter is in my hands. It is just as likely as not that I may stop Mr. Marsh-Carr from paying you one penny. You had better have done my business properly Kidd."
"We did do it properly," said Kidd in a surly tone.
"I don't think so. It was my wish that the Mexican should be watched. You have let him leave the country."
"I didn't," protested Kidd, who would have been insolent but that he was afraid of losing the reward, "that was Belcher's game."