Part 4 (1/2)
His tone was unco and definite Boolba realized that he could not pursue his argu this unwilling agent to his way of thinking a new line would have to be taken
”You will not be asked to take a risk for nothing,” he said ”I am authorized to pay you twenty thousand roubles, that is, two thousand pounds in your money----”
”Not mine,” interrupted Bi to say Well, even that doesn't te up a chair and sitting down in the inal when you offer me this commission I've had it offered me before in New York City, and I've always turned it down, though I knoay to safety blindfolded
That's all there is to it, gentlemen--and ladies,” he added
”So you refuse?” Neither Boolba's voice nor his manner was pleasant
”That's about the size of it,” said Cherry Birafter, I ad I wouldn't do fro a bank doards, to turn a dishonest penny But, gents, I'm short of the necessary nerve, inclination, lack of eneral unGodliness, to take on ree”
”You have courage, nificantly ”You do not suppose we should take you into our confidence and let you go away again so easily?”
Mr Bim's smile became broader
”Gents, I won't deceive you,” he said ”I expected a rough house and prepared for it Watch me!”
He extended one of his hands in the manner of a conjurer and with the other pulled up the sleeve above the wrist He turned the hands over, waggling the fingers as though he were giving a perfor there, is there?” said Cherry Bi there Look!”
No eyes were sharp enough to follow the quick ain There was a slur of move-barrelled Colt Cherry Bi no notice of the sensation he created, tossed the revolver to the ceiling and caught it again
”Now, gents, I don't knohether you're foolish or only just crazy Get away fro-haired ainst the closed door And ”Hector,” whose name was Nickolo Novoski Yasserdernski in real life, un-uess” He thrust the barrel of his revolver against the other's side, and the long-haired asp But Cherry Biainst the end of a key, and when Cherry Binetic,” the gun-man kindly explained; ”it is a whih the door and slammed it behind him
CHAPTER III
THE GRAND ducheSS IRENE
Israel Kensky was dozing before the fire when the sound of the creaking stair woke him He walked softly to the door and listened, and presently he heard the steps of his daughter passing along the corridor He opened the door suddenly and stepped out, and she jumped back with a little cry of alarm There were moments when she was terribly afraid of her father, and such a moment came to her now
”Are you not asleep, Israel Kensky?” she faltered
”I could not sleep,” replied the other, in so e ”Come into my room I wish to speak to you”
He did not ask her where she had been, or to explain why, at three o'clock in the , she was dressed for the street, and she felt it necessary to offer some explanation
”You wonder why I areat noise in the street, and went out to see----”
”What does it hter Why should you not walk in the street if you desire?”
He switched on the light to auglohich came from the fire