“How?” Gray put down his suitcases to light a cigar, while he gazed abstractedly at the foreign-looking man.
“I—I—er—my name is Vladimir,” said the foreigner nervously. “I will promise you five thousand dollars each and all assistance in your separate desires. You”—he spoke to Gray—“you will have all opportunities to hear them talk and study their speech. And you, er, you shall have all the adventures the hills afford. If only you will, er, help us to maintain a certain, er, discretion.”
Cunningham found himself disliking this man extremely.
“Discretion?” he demanded. “You mean keep our mouths shut?”
Vladimir beamed at him.
“Ah, yes! You are a young man. Adventure? There are pretty girls in the hills. I will give them orders. You will find them fascinating. And five thousand dollars in addition to smiles——”
“Suppose you talk plainly,” said Gray shortly, before Cunningham could speak.
“You will find my brother among the Strangers,” Vladimir told them eagerly. “You saw him on the train. Find him and tell him of the bargain I have just made with you. And he will tell you just what you may repeat or speak of what you see. And if you agree to work with us I will give you more money. Ten thousand dollars!”
“But what is the work you are planning?” asked Gray, again before Cunningham could reply. Cunningham was seething.
“It would not be wise to say. But the sheriff of the county has agreed to work with us—for a gift, of course—and will assist us with the full force of the law. If he does so, there can be no objection to your aiding us.”