“All my life,” he replied, “I have told the truth. It is a great advantage, because if you do that nobody ever takes you seriously.”
“But talking about murders and revolvers——”
“Perhaps,” said the Saint, with that mocking smile, “it will increase the prominence of the part which I hope to play in your thoughts from now onwards if I tell you that from this morning the most strenuous efforts will be made to kill me. On the other hand, of course, I shall not be killed, so you mustn’t worry too much about me. I mean, don’t go off your feed or lie awake all night or anything like that.”
“I’ll try not to,” she said lightly.
“You don’t believe me,” accused Templar sternly.
She hesitated.
“Well——”
“One day,” said the Saint severely, “you will apologise for your unbelief.”
He gave her a stiff bow and marched away so abruptly that she gasped.
It was exactly one o’clock when he arrived home at the Pill Box, and Orace was flustered and disapproving.