"In heaven's name, Donnegan!"
The little man smiled. He had a marvelously wicked smile, which came from the fact that his lips could curve while his eyes remained bright and straight, and malevolently unwrinkled. He laid his hand on the knob of the door.
"Donnegan," cried the colonel, gray of face, "give me one minute."
25
Donnegan stepped to a chair and sat down. He took out his watch and held it in his hand, studying the dial, and the colonel knew that his time limit was taken literally.
"I swear to you," he said, "that if you can help me to the possession of Landis while he is ill, I shall not lay a finger upon him or harm him in any way."
"You swear?" said Donnegan with that ugly smile.
"My dear boy, do you think I am reckless enough to break a promise I have given to you?"