"Ask she come up," said Van Diest.
And Laurence went out passing Blayney who was on duty outside the door.
"What's the bend, Chief?" demanded Hipps.
Van Diest shook his head thoughtfully. "Donno, donno. Wass awful if we mus' do someting. Eh? Hipps, eh?"
And he tilted his head suggestively toward Richard's bedroom.
"His own damn fault," came the answer.
"But it wass a man's life, Hipps."
"I've no choice that way myself."
Van Diest began to pace the floor, his fingers tattooing on his chest and his head going from side to side.
"We ought to haf read better the character of this man. S'no good to know about the monies and not about the mens. We find ourselves in a terrible position. Ss! Terrible—terrible."