For a moment the detective watched the man and held out his hand; but the crook refused it.
“No, I’m yours. You’ve bought me,” he said. “Now, what am I to do?”
For some time the detective talked, and was not interrupted.
When he went away he seemed to smile to himself, and half an hour later he was back in his own rooms.
One hour later Claude Lamont was met in the club annex by a man, who held out his hand.
Lamont looked searchingly at this person and shook his head.
“You have the best of me,” said he.
“What, don’t you know me?” cried the other, as if surprised. “I’m Belmont.”
“The devil you are!”
“That’s who I am, and I’m not surprised that you did not recognize me.”