"Why didn't you tell me that yesterday?" demanded Deaves.
"I wanted to find out what was up first. I know now."
George Deaves began to look impressed.
Evan made haste to follow up his advantage. "Have up the policeman. I can tell him no more than I've told you. But the whole affair must be well aired, I suppose."
George Deaves winced. He and his father exchanged a glance. "There's no hurry," he said. "We may have been mistaken. At any rate we don't want any unnecessary publicity."
"You don't mean to say you're going to pay!" cried Evan involuntarily.
"Wouldn't you advise it?" asked the old man craftily.
"No! Fight! Call their bluff! The nervy blackguards! Oh, to give up to them would be too tame!"
"I guess he isn't one of them, George," Simeon Deaves said dryly.
George apparently agreed with him, though he made no direct acknowledgment.