Suddenly she heard Quintana's step in the kitchen. Cautiously she turned the pantry key from inside.
Stormont heard her, and instantly came to her. At the same moment
Quintana unbolted the door from the outside and tried to open it.
"Come out," he said coldly, "or it will not go well with you when my men return."
"You've got what you say is your property," replied Stormont. "What do you want now?"
"I tell you what I want ver' damn quick. Who was he, thees man who rides with my property on your horse away? Eh? Because it was not Nick Salzar! No! Salzar cannot ride thees way. No! Alors?"
"I can't tell you who he was," replied Stormont. "That's your affair, not ours."
"No? Ah! Ver' well, then. I shall tell you Senor Flic! He was one of yours. I understan'. It is a trap, a cheat — what you call a plant! Thees man who rode your horse he is disguise! Yes! He also is a gendarme! Yes! You think I let a gendarme rob me? I got you where I want you now. You shall write your gendarme frien' that he return to me my property, one day's time, or I send him by parcel post two nice, fresh-out right-hands — your sweetheart's and your own!"
Stormont drew Eve's head close to his:
"This man is blood mad or out of his mind! I'd better go out and take a chance at him before the others come back."
But the girl shook her head violently, caught him by the arm and drew him toward the mouth of the tile down which Clinch always emptied his hootch when the Dump was raided.