Amazing is the vanity of man! A moment earlier he had been regarding me with the deepest suspicion--now, so deep and rooted was his conceit that, at one word from me, his suspicions vanished. His contempt for me, however, only deepened.
He rubbed his thin long fingers together.
'So you're down and out, are you? Well, I'm not surprised. . . .' He became suddenly confidential. 'Look here. You can tell me something. I was taking a bit of a risk suggesting this meeting. Of course, Osmund and Buller only got what they were asking for over that burglary business. They'd have been caught anyway. But I couldn't expect them to feel especially friendly to me over it. Yes, it was a bit bold, suggesting a meeting, but that's why I'm where I am to-day. I've taken risks all my life long, and they've a
