“What?” said the man surlily.
“I said ‘Hallo, handsome!’” cried Hilary. “Have you come to let me out?”
The man uttered a low hoarse chuckle, which sounded like a laugh, but his face did not move a muscle, and he looked as if he were scowling heavily.
“We’ll carry you out some day, my young buck,” he said, “feet foremost. There’s a little burying-ground just outside the place here.”
“Thank you,” replied Hilary. “Is that meant for a joke?”
“Joke? No, I never joke. Here I’ve brought you something to eat, and you won’t get any more till to-morrow.”
He set the rough tray he carried on the floor, and the man who was with him did the same, after which they both stood and stared at the prisoner.
“Send him away,” said Hilary suddenly, and he pointed to the fresh man.
“What for?”
“I want to talk to you.”