"
"What d'you mean, you're sorry? You're not going to back out?"
"Having never walked into the arrangement you propose, it would be
difficult to back out--would it not?"
Monk forgot that he was suffering acutely, forgot even the beautiful
and precious hand that was soothing his fevered brow, and rudely
shaking it off, sat up suddenly. The eyebrows were distinctly minatory
above eyes that loosed ugly gleams.
"You refuse?"
Lanyard slowly inclined his head: "I regret I must beg to be excused."
"You damned fool!"
"Pardon, monsieur?"
A look of fury convulsed Liane's face. Phinuit, too, was glaring, no
longer a humourist. Monk's mouth was working, and his eyebrows had got
out of hand altogether.
"I said you were a damned fool--"
"But is not that a matter of personal viewpoint? At least, the question
would seem to be open to debate."
"If you think arguments will satisfy us--!"
"But, my dear Captain Monk, I am really not at all concerned to satisfy
you. However, if you wish to know my reasons for declining the honour
you would thrust upon me, they are at your service.
Pages:
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448