For some moments the silence remained unbroken--a fact which seemed to arouse the detective's irascibility.
"Is that all you have to say? If so, perhaps you will excuse me. My time happens to be of value."
Mr. Haines opened his lips.
"That creature has buncoed me again."
"What creature?"
"Private detective Stewart Trevannion."
"When a man calls himself a private detective, nine times out of ten yon may safely write him down a scoundrel. The tenth time, perhaps, he is something worse."
"A scoundrel. That's what he is. And next time we chance to meet I'll write the thing on him in good bold letters in my very plainest hand. He raised another fifty out of me. He undertook to place me in communication with my girl if I let him have it. He has placed me in communication neither with my girl nor with himself since he raised that fifty."
Mr. Holman leaned against the side of the table on which he had just been having tea. He regarded his visitor with something like a twinkle in his eye.
"Governor, do you mind my speaking a little plainly?"