"No—but see here—"
"Be at ease—there is nobody." Lanyard laughed quietly. "But neither am I in a position to assert—and stake my life on it—that I will find nobody on guard in the Vandergrift library tonight. So I will have a pistol for self-protection when I go to pay my call."
"You make that a positive condition?"
"Assuredly, monsieur. And if it comes to that—why not?"
"Suppose you'll have to have it, then."
"A supposition that does great credit to monsieur's efficiency of apprehension. If, however, you are afraid to trust me with firearms, I will cheerfully consent to a postponement till you have had time to think the matter over."
"Why should I be afraid to trust you with a gat?"
"The very question I have been asking myself. Believe me, monsieur, confidence alone can beget confidence."
"You've got me all wrong," Morphew sulkily insisted. "Oh, well! if you've got to have the thing—here."
An automatic pistol changed hands. Making sure that the safety catch was set—which proved that the weapon was loaded and ready for use—Lanyard contentedly dropped it into his pocket.