Remembering that the best tobacco in the world came from the south-east of their country, the aroma of the weed they had chosen was not as grateful to Stranleigh's nostrils as might have been expected, so partly for good fellowship, and partly for his own protection, he presented each with a fine Havana cigar, such as would be welcomed in a London club, where pipes are not permitted. The men amiably accepted this contribution, but each put the cigar in his pocket against a future occasion, and went on with his pipe. Cheap as was the tobacco they were using, it was naturally scarce among men who had received no money for some months.
"I don't wish to appear unduly inquisitive," began their guest, "but now that we have all night before us, would you mind telling me why I am thus taken charge of by strangers on whom I have no claim?"
"There are several reasons," replied Jim, who was always the spokesman for the company, "and we are quite willing to mention them. You appear to be a person of some intelligence----"
Jim went on, unheeding the interruption--"and so perhaps you know that we suspect you of being in cohoots with Ricketts."
"Something of that sort. You partly persuaded us that wasn't so, but I followed you to make sure. Perhaps you remember that I caught you coming out from Ricketts' office. You made for that office the moment you reached Bleachers."
"Pardon me, but I went first to the hotel."
"Yes; and you enquired there where Ricketts hung out."
"Certainly; but that's in my favour. It showed that so far from being in the employ of the lawyer, I didn't even know where he lived."
"It's very circumstantial evidence of my innocence. But for the sake of argument, I will admit that I am in 'cohoots,' as you call it, with the estimable Ricketts. What next?"
"The next thing is that you learnt from Miss Armstrong of our intention to go into Bleachers and shoot up the town, including Ricketts."
"You said it should be stopped, not knowing the ways of this country."
"Certainly. Desirable as may be the shooting up of Bleachers, the odds are too strongly against you."
"Oh, we'll chance that. But the next thing you do is to put your funny clothes on, get out your horse, and ride directly to Mr. Ricketts. You are an informer."