Kirby cut short preliminaries. "You know why we're here and what we want," he said abruptly.
"I confess I don't, unless to report on your trip to Golden," James countered suavely. "Was it successful, may I ask?"
"If it wasn't, you know why it wasn't."
The eyes of the two men met. Neither of them dodged in the least or gave to the rigor of the other's gaze.
"Referring to Jack's expedition, I presume."
"You don't deny it, then."
"My dear Kirby, I never waste breath in useless denials. You saw Jack.
Therefore he must have been there."
"He was. He brought away with him a page cut from the marriage-license registry."
James lifted a hand of protest. "Ah! There we come to the parting of the ways. I can't concede that."
"No, but you know it's true," said Kirby bluntly.