He said glibly: "With you, my friend, it is important that you should not betray my trust. If you did, I should kill you without the slightest scruple. And what is more important"—his face was smiling but his eyes were blue and cold—"I should get away with it. I should not even dislike you when I killed you, but I should know that your death was necessary because you knew a little too much and had not behaved too well. Now sit down. I am going to talk to you."
Isles went back to his chair. He sat back, relaxed, watching Guelvada.
Guelvada began to speak. His voice was soft, almost caressing. He said: "As you know, my friend, there is a great deal of trouble in the world. Everywhere there are the forces of good, but unfortunately they do not make so much noise as the forces of evil. Never
