He eyed me doubtfully. Then, advancing, he laid upon my arm a hand which positively trembled.
"Tress, you—you wouldn't play tricks on an old friend."
"You are right, Pugh, I wouldn't, though I believe there have been occasions on which you have had doubts upon the subject. By the way, Pugh, I believe that I am the oldest friend you have."
"I—I don't know about that. There's—there's Brasher."
"Brasher! Who's Brasher? You wouldn't compare my friendship to the friendship of such a man as Brasher? Think of the tastes we have in common, you and I. We're both collectors."
"Ye-es, we're both collectors."
"I make my interests yours, and you make your interests mine. Isn't that so, Pugh?"
"Tress, what—what was in the box?"
"I will be frank with you, Pugh. If there had been something in the box, would you have been willing to go halves with me in my discovery?"
"Go halves! In your discovery, Tress! Give me what is mine!"