“Look here, Lizard,” I said, “I intend to be friends with you, and I mean to make you look on me as a friend. It’s to my advantage and to yours.”
“To mine?” he inquired, sneeringly, amused.
“And this is the first thing I want,” I continued; and without further preface I unfolded our plans concerning Jacqueline.
“Entendu,” he said, drawling the word, “is that all?”
“Do you consent?”
“Is that all?” he repeated, with Breton obstinacy.
“No, not all. I want you to be my messenger in time of need. I want you to be absolutely faithful to me.”
“Is that all?” he drawled again.
“And what is there in this, to my advantage, m’sieu?”