“Don’t talk of killing, Deland,” he hoarsely protested. “There has been killing enough—more than enough, God knows!”
“And God knows, too, that more may be necessary,” Deland returned, with icy austerity.
“Why do you say that? Why necessary?”
“For your own safety and mine,” declared Deland, with merciless severity. “That’s a clever question to come from you, Madison, after hearing the accusations of this infernal dick.”
“But——”
“Oh, I know what he has been saying and why he said it. I have been listening outside of the window and in the conservatory. Luckily the outer door was unlocked and that in the alcove open, so that I could get in noiselessly. But for that, Madison, it might have been all over but the shouting—all over for you but paying the price!”
“I shall pay no price for crimes which you——”
“Stop right there!” snapped Deland, jerking his chair nearer the table. “You will pay what I dictate for what has been done.”
Madison recoiled involuntarily from the fierce, threatening eyes of the vicious rascal.
“What you dictate——”