"Get the horses. Don't let Benham's beast break away."
He went out into the clearing, put on his coat and waistcoat, and, returning, stood by Jasper, looking down at him with amused contempt.
"Well, Mr. Benham—well, you are no fool with a sword."
Jasper lay in a dumb rage. The lust to resist was still strong in him, and he was savage over the roughness the men had used. The dastardly nature of the whole thing maddened him; also the knowledge that he had been tricked.
"You damned cur!"
Their brevity was expressive, but the words did not appear to hurt De Rothan.
"Mr. Benham, we are playing a critical hand in a great game—that is all. If there is any gratitude in you, you should be grateful to me for not having killed you. Meddlers must not complain if they are treated without ceremony."
His complacency scourged Jasper's sense of savage humiliation.
"This comes of trusting the word of a scoundrel. I was a fool not to have you arrested and shot."
De Rothan took out his snuff-box, and helped himself with finger and thumb.