"Shaddup," growled Channing. "And start explaining what this is for."
"I'm ruined!"
"Try it again and we'll ruin you some more," promised Don. "I have an aversion to being shot at."
"So have I," said Walt.
"He wasn't shooting at you," said Don.
"No, but I'd have been next, wouldn't I, Lazarus?"
"Laurus," snarled Towle.
"Now look," said Channing in a voice that gave no idea of softness, "you're licked from here on in. This weapon of yours is now ours, and we'll hang it in the museum with other mementos of our having been shot at. Luckily, this makes the first time that it came close. Say—you aren't an old crony of Hellion Murdoch?"
"Never heard of him."
"Good. Now, as I was saying, we've disarmed you.... Walt, take a prowl of his person and see if he has any more lethal instruments concealed thereupon ... and we're inclined to get up off the floor and resume our roles as gentlemen. Besides, I want to know what you had in mind besides assassination."