Gomez flinched, but recovered his calm with a quickness that showed Walthew he had a dangerous antagonist.
"Push your chair back from that open drawer and then keep still!" he ordered.
Gomez obeyed, and Walthew sat down on the edge of the table, where, if necessary, he could spring up more quickly than from a chair. Besides, the position helped him to keep both Gomez and the door in sight.
"You are uselessly dramatic, señor," Gomez remarked with a forced sneer. "You dare not use the pistol, and I am not to be frightened by so cheap a trick."
Walthew did not put down the weapon.
"Rather stale, but it has served its purpose by stopping you from calling out, and that's all I wanted to begin with. Now I'm going to show you how we stand."
"Your position strikes me as very weak."
"Well," said Walthew coolly, "I don't know. There are some chances in my favor."
"Not many, I think. A shot or a call from me would lead to your immediate arrest."
Walthew lowered the pistol.