“About eight months ago, roughly speaking.”
“And Clay knew about it all along?”
“No. We didn’t tell him until a week before his death.”
“That sounds curious,” Osborne said suspiciously. “Since you were silent so long, why did you speak about the thing at last?”
“It looked as if we might have trouble. Clay could have prevented our working, and when he came off to talk matters over we told him about the case. In the end, he lent us his diver and all the assistance he could.”
“And was that the only concession he made?”
“Yes,” said Jimmy with a flush. “It was all we demanded and all we got. It would simplify things if you took that for granted.”
“I suppose you know you were easily satisfied?” Osborne’s tone was ironical.
Jimmy made no response.
“Am I to understand that the case is mine absolutely, to do what I like with?” Osborne asked.