"Good evening, Culver Rann," replied Aldous.
For a moment his nerves had tingled--the next they were like steel. Culver Rann's teeth gleamed. Aldous smiled back. They were cold, hard, rapierlike glances. Each understood now that the other was a deadly enemy, for Quade's enemies were also Culver Rann's. Aldous moved carelessly to the glass case in which were the cigars. With the barest touch of one of his slim white hands Culver Rann stopped him.
"Have one of mine, Aldous," he invited, opening a silver case filled with cigars. "We've never had the pleasure of smoking together, you know."
"Never," said Aldous, accepting one of the cigars. "Thanks."
As he lighted it, their eyes met again. Aldous turned to the case.
"Half a dozen 'Noblemen,'" he said to the man behind the counter; then, to Rann: "Will you have one on me?"
"With pleasure," said Rann. He added, smiling straight into the other's eyes, "What are you doing up here, Aldous? After local colour?"
"Decidedly. And I understand that you've played an important part in the making of it," replied Aldous carelessly.
For a flash Rann's eyes darkened, and his mouth hardened, then his white teeth gleamed again. He had caught the insinuation, and he had scarcely been able to ward off the shot.
"I've tried to do my small share," he admitted. "If you're after local colour for your books, Aldous, I possibly may be able to assist you--if you're in town long."
"Undoubtedly you could," said Aldous. "I think you could tell me a great deal that I would like to know, Rann. But--will you?"
There was a direct challenge in his coldly smiling eyes.
"Yes, I think I shall be quite pleased to do so," said Rann. "Especially--if you are long in town." There was an odd emphasis on those last words.
"And if you are here very long," he added, his eyes gleaming significantly, "it is possible you may have experiences of your own which would make very interesting reading if they ever got into print. Good-night, Aldous!"
For two or three minutes after Rann had gone Aldous loitered in the tobacco shop. Then he went out. All at once it struck him that he should have kept his eyes on Quade's partner. He should have followed him. With the hope of seeing him again he walked up and down the street. It was eleven o'clock when he went into Big Ben's pool-room. Five minutes later he came out just as a woman hurried past him, carrying with her a strong scent of perfume. It was the Lady of the Bear. She was in a street dress now, her glossy curls still falling loose about her--probably homeward bound after her night's harvest. It struck Aldous that the hour was early for her retirement, and that she seemed somewhat in a hurry.