“Justice.”
“A hard word for cowards. What do I believe, I wonder? At any rate, in being sport enough to play the game through. You’re right, old hard-shell. I’ll stick it out. It will only mean spending this”—he swept the money back into its repository—“a little more slowly.”
“I was sure I could count on you,” I said. “Now I can give you the talisman.” I set on the desk before him a small pasteboard box. “Pay strict attention. You see that label? That’s to remind you. One tablet if you can’t sleep.”
“I couldn’t last night.”
“Two if the pain becomes more than you can stand.”
He nodded.
“But three at one time and you’ll sleep so sound that nothing will ever awaken you.”
“Good old Chris!” Opening the box, he fingered the pellets curiously. “A blessed thing, your science! Three and the sure sleep.”
“On trust, Ned.”
“On honor,” he agreed. “Then I mustn’t expunge old Crouch? It’s a disappointment,” he added gayly.