"I am beginning to be offended, Bob. I did not think you would trust me so little!"
"Don't get angry, old man. Remember that only a few minutes ago you warned me that you would cut me dead after the crime. We artistic criminals must be prepared against every contingency."
"I did not think when I spoke. I did not mean it."
"Yes, you did, and I am not at all angry. Let it be understood then that you will be at liberty to repeat the facts about this wager should your conscience prick you. It will be best for me to expect and be prepared for such action. But you have not asked what the second danger of discovery is. Can you guess?"
"Not unless you mean as you suggested, your own confession."
"No, though that really makes a third chance. Yet it is so simple. Have you noticed that we can hear a man snoring?"
"No!"
"Listen a moment! Do you not hear that? It is not exactly a snore, but rather a troubled breathing. Now that man is in the third section from us. Do you see the point?"
"I must confess that I would not make a detective."
"Why, my dear boy, if we can hear that fellow, why may not some one in the next compartment be listening to our tête-à-tête?" Mr. Barnes fairly glowed with admiration for the fellow's careful consideration of every point.