"He's been a good friend to me."
"Why?" asked the stranger.
"I don't know. I've asked myself that question a thousand times."
"He's helped you with your debts in return for your services in teaching a lot of foreigners to shoot straight?"
Wilmot frowned.
"Did it ever occur to you that he could have obtained half a dozen teachers for a tenth of the money?"
"That has occurred to me," said Wilmot stiffly.
"Obviously then he has some ulterior use for you."
"Very possibly."
"Please don't take offence. There are reasons why you shouldn't. I am coming to them. Remember, O'Hagan talked to me, and talked truth. Blizzard is planning a revolution. You are to be one of the leaders. You imagine that one of the hell-governed Latin republics is to be the seat of operations, or you wouldn't have gone into the thing. But Blizzard is after bigger game than undeveloped wildernesses. Mr. Allen, you are part of a conspiracy to overthrow the government of New York City."