But they walked with their shoulders square, with their chins up and in their swinging stride there was no hint of condemned men on their way to the scaffold.
Reaching the door of Robinson’s office they did not wait for the guard to announce them. Vince beat a tattoo upon the metal.
“Come in, “ said the pirate, and once more they stood before the beautifully carved desk behind which sat the most feared, most hated man of the solar system.
Robinson regarded them with narrowed eyes, but his throat gurgled with cruel laughter.
“This asteroid of yours,” he said, “is very precious. It is rich beyond dreams. It is full of gold.”
“It is full of lead and, at present, cluttered up with damned robbers,” said Vince softly.
Robinson seemed not to hear him, but Vernon, watching closely, knew that his brother’s words had flicked him on the raw.
“It is regrettable,” purred the pirate, “that having discovered such a vast deposit of gold, it should be lost to you. Under the circumstances your fortitude has been truly amazing. You have earned something better than the fate which I generally mete out to my…. my…..”
“Victims,” suggested Vernon.
“That’s it,” beamed Robinson. “How did you think of the word?”