Van Diest smiled expansively.
"Ver' distressing dis uneven market."
"I imagine you must have found it so."
"Poor Mister Cassis—he was ver' green dis morning."
"Our dear Cassis is a born actor. Well, gentlemen, I won't keep you any longer except to offer my sympathy that you have found A. B. so indifferent a confidant. Good day."
And with a polite bow he turned and mingled with the crowd.
"Can't quite get the strength of all that," observed Hipps as he and Van Diest passed out of the main door, "but one thing sticks out a mile. We can't hold our prisoner indefinitely. He must be made to talk right away."
"Dis evening we make the big effort."
"And assumin' it fails?"
"Dat would be a peety—such a peety."