"I know you must be damned tired, Lowell, and I don't want to pester you. But will you let me stay in

your room with you while you are sleeping?"

I said with the same stubborn irritability:

"For God's sake, Braile, didn't you hear what I told Ricori? I'm much obliged and all of that, but it applies

to you as well."

He said quietly: "I am going to stay right here in the study, wide-awake, until McCann comes or dawn

comes. If I hear any sounds in your room, I'm coming in. Whenever I want to take a look at you to see

whether you are all right, I'm coming in. Don't lock your door, because if you do I'll break it down. Is

that all quite clear?"

I grew angrier still. He said: