Argetti stared with an amazed look upon his face, and our hero continued:
"Yes, I am using you as a decoy. I find I am being 'dogged,' by a certain man. He is on my track to-night. He was on my track this afternoon and I wished to act very mysterious and fool him, so when the girl asked my business this afternoon I told her I was looking for a gentleman named Argetti. My answer was a 'steer,' but the girl said she knew Argetti. I had invented the name and was surprised, so I conceived a desire to see the individual. I had, as it appears, individualized, for I knew no Argetti until the girl said she knew the man. Is your name Argetti?"
"Permit me, please, to think over what you have said, and to ask you a few questions."
"Good. I will answer your questions like a little man."
Argetti appeared more and more amazed, and he sat for a long time eyeing our hero without speaking one word. The interview would appear to have been very embarrassing. When Argetti spoke there was a depth of suppressed passion in his tone.
"Have you come here to amuse yourself at my expense?"
"Yes," came the bold and really insulting answer.
The Italian leaped to his feet exclaiming:
"You miserable little fool, I'll wring your neck as I'd wring the neck of a squab."
Oscar did not move or betray any fear or nervousness. He merely laughed his "hee, hee, hee!" and said soothingly: