He threw down his cigar and stood up. I rose also.
“I see,” he said, with sarcasm. “I knew there was something beside public spirit. You think, by hanging off and playing me against this other sucker, you can get a higher price. Well, if that's the game, I'll keep him busy.”
He took out his watch, glanced at it, and thrust it back into his pocket.
“I've wasted time enough over this fool thing,” he declared. “Now that I know what the game is we'll talk to the point. It's highway robbery, but I might have expected to be robbed. I'll give you six hundred for that land.”
I did not answer. I was holding my temper by main strength and I could not trust myself to speak.
“Well?” he sneered. “That shakes your public spirit some, hey? What do you say?”
“No,” I answered, and started for the door.
“What!” he could hardly believe his ears. “By the Lord Harry! the fellow is crazy. Six hundred and fifty then, you infernal robber.”
“No.”
“NO! Say, what in thunder do you mean?”