"Sir, I give you kindes' thanks." The banker was bowing, in character again. "Your intelligence are only equal', I 'ope, by that of your frien'. Jus' one more little, so little favor."
He turned to Robert Matcham and held up the doubloon between finger and thumb, so that his eyes blazed over it in the light; and I knew then, with a springing pulse, that the affair had passed quite beyond me and must take its own fateful course.
"You will inform us please w'ere you fin' this."
"Me?" said Robert Matcham with concentrated vehemence. "I'll see you fry in hell!"
The other's suavity fell away from him like a disguise. His teeth showed white in his beard; he gesticulated and the shadow behind him danced with fury.
"In 'ell! In 'ell? Look out! Tha's a place--tha's a place w'ere people speak out of their mouths the way they are told! They make you talk in 'ell, mister, whether you like or not!"
He controlled himself with a strong effort.
"Sir, why you should demand so peevish to be sorry? You got no business with that coin--no; not one damn little affair. What does it make to you? Be nize, now."
"It was by Machico. Yes? Tell me anyways it was near Machico. It must 'ave been. Tell me that."
"No?" But once again he clutched his beard. "You want money to tell? Put your price."
"No!" said Robert Matcham; and the word came hot as an oath....
One instant I saw the banker toss his arms like a semaphore; the next we were overborne. Of that I retained chiefly a bewilderment at the force of our captors and the ease with which they dealt with us. Shy with the gun they might be, and indeed it is no natural weapon of their race; but these operators knew the use of trip and hamstring--the hugger-mugger arts; none better. My feet were driven from under me; my wrists paralyzed; I was caught and wound like a cocoon; and when I dropped it was on the cushions of the automobile. And, though this might be a slight-enough feat regarding myself, it was the measure of their cleverness that I found Robert Matcham already there, pocketed in a helpless bale. I believe he had no chance so much as to lift a hand.
"You won' be nize with me?" The banker's chuckle floated back to us. "Then you can try being not nize with our Number One, and see 'ow you like it!"