“Curse you, I——”
“Cut that!” snapped Badger, thrusting Goulard aside when he reached for a weapon. “You’ll be given a chance to have your say a little later. Just now, Goulard, I’ll do the talking with the dick.”
Goulard drew back, white and frowning, and glanced again toward one of the windows.
“No, Carter, you’d find no loophole,” said Badger, reverting to him. “The best we can offer you is a choice between the East River, a toss in the darkness through one of those windows, or a bed in a couple of feet of quicklime.”
“I’ll let you make the selection,” said Nick coldly.
“No great choice, eh?” sneered Badger, grinning.
“None as far as I am concerned.”
“Carter, you’re a cool dick, all right. I suppose, if we were really pressed to do so, we would offer you something better,” Badger slowly added, after a moment.
Nick eyed him narrowly, noting his altered tone.
“What is that?” he inquired.