“Snags must have asked you for it. Tell me what he said.”
“I have nothing to tell. What do you suppose I know about it? You are aware that Snags captured the wrong man when he took me. Find the right one, and seek the information of him.”
“I believe that you are lying—that you know more than you will tell.”
“I can’t help what you believe. Search me, if you wish, and see if you can find anything you want.”
Roake paused, apparently, in doubt what course to pursue. At last he said:
“Well, your cousin has been arrested. The whole town thinks him guilty of murdering Colonel Conrad. He is to be examined, and then he will probably show it.”
“Show what?”
“The paper, if he has any.”
“Very well, let him. I don’t see what harm can come to him, or what good to you, by his showing any paper he is likely to have. At all events, you will not gain anything by bothering me about it.”
Leonard was not in the slightest degree disposed to violate the promise he had given to Snags. He did not care to have Roake know that the fragment supposed to be in the possession of Carlos was of any value. But Roake’s words awoke in him a feeling of concern.