I stared. "What does it mean?"
"Why, that his friends are outside, and that he wants to admit them," said Legrand with an oath.
Barraclough met my gaze unblinkingly. "It's more or less true," he said bluntly, "and I'm going to let them in. I'm sick of this business, and I've taken the matter in hand myself. I'm captain here."
He spoke with morose authority and eyed me coolly. I shrugged my shoulders. We could not afford to quarrel, but the man's obduracy angered me. Alas! I did not guess how soon he was to pay the penalty!
"Then you have come to terms, as you call it, on your own account, with Holgate?" I asked.
"Yes," he said defiantly.
"And what terms, may I ask?"
He hesitated. "They can have the treasure in return for our safety. You know my views."
"And you know mine," said I. "Then, I may take it you have revealed the secret of the treasure?"
"What the devil's it got to do with you?" he replied sullenly. "Stand out of the way there! I'm going to open the door!"