It suddenly came to Evan that they were just playing with him, that they had no intention of letting him go. Moreover that hateful voice had roused a fury in him that was incapable of making further pretences.
"I'll swear nothing," he said sullenly.
"That's too bad!" said the man who faced him, with hypocritical regret. Evan was sure now that they were grinning among themselves. "I'll have to return you to your luxurious chamber."
The harsh voice broke in again: "We're taking too big a chance, leaving him here. We can't stay here ourselves, and the woman is no match for him. He'll break out."
"What do you propose then?" asked the other man.
"He'll never let up against us. Look at that stubborn jaw. It's us or him!"
"What do you want me to do?"
"Put him out of the way!"
Evan thought: "They're bluffing!"
But he heard the gentlest voice among them murmur: "Oh, no! no!" And that was more convincing than the other man's abuse. A chill struck to his breast.