"Then you know what to do."
Deep silence fell upon the room. Not only the eyes but the whole of Alec's face appeared through the doorway. Hough could no more have resisted longer than he could have leaped from the open window. They drank together.
"Now," said Sidwell, "just to show that you mean it, we'll have another."
And soon the enemy that puerile man puts into his mouth to steal his brains was enthroned.
Sidwell sank into his chair, and lighting his cigar sent a great cloud of smoke curling up over his head. Hand and tongue were steady, unnaturally so, but the mood of irresponsible confidence was upon him.
"Since you've decided to remain my friend," he said, "I'm going to tell you something confidential, very confidential. You won't give it away?"
"Never!" Hough shook his head.
The big man crossed his hands over his heart in the manner of small boys.
Sidwell was satisfied. "All right, then. This is the last time you and I will ever get—this way together."