'Do you think I want to do you?'
'I'm dead sure you do, if you only get a chance. I've done a little business with you before to-day, Mr Cox. You must think I'm soft. Why, nothing would suit your book better than to do me out of the pieces and get me lagged. But if you try that game, I'll see you get a bit of it. Thank you; I don't trust you, not as far as I can see you, Mr Cox.'
The gentleman thus flatteringly alluded to laughed, a little mechanically.
'I'm sorry to hear you talk like that, Flyman. There's no time now to try to induce you to form a better opinion of me; but you'll discover that you have done me an injustice before very long. Anyhow, let's see that you have the ruby.'
Mr Burton chose this moment to awake to the fact that he had a very definite interest in the discussion which was being carried on. He banged his glass against the table.
'I'm going to have that ruby! I'm going to have it now!'
'So you shall, when you've given me the thousand pounds.'
'I don't care about the thousand pounds; I'm going to have the ruby!'
'Then, I'm damned if you are!'
'I say I am. Now, then! So you'd better give it to me--before I take it.'