She shook her head sadly.
"I'm sorry. I owe you an explanation, and don't think I'm not grateful. More than that I can't tell you now."
"Listen," Jim said. "I may have been drunk last night. Perhaps I'm a mild sort of rotter, but at least I want to try."
The girl shrugged her shoulders helplessly.
"I'm sorry," she said. "It may sound foolish, but the success of my mission here depends on myself alone. The lives of many people are hinged on my playing the game alone. The curse that holds me, binds my people also."
Puffy Adams' jaw dropped. He reached for the always ready bottle in the small bar and poured a drink. He swallowed it with a loud gulp.
"George Lardner shares your knowledge," Drake said.
Sylvia's body shuddered under the fur.
"Lardner is a snake." Her voice was as cold as ice. "His greed has destroyed my people. Death will be his reward."
"All of which means," Drake said evenly. "You have recovered the diamond that you held in your hands last night at the Owl Limb."