“Come to the table, Mr. Robinson,” said Crow, in a manner which suggested he had no doubt that his instructions would be followed, “and explain what this intrusion means.” Westerham laughed and drew away from the men with the knives. He walked easily down to the table to the place which had been vacated by the bullet-headed man, and without so much as a word of apology took that plump and furious person's seat. He looked easily and almost lazily along the lines of vicious faces until his gaze finally rested on Crow. “I understood,” he said, in a pleasant voice, “that after my introduction the other night I was at liberty to come here when I pleased.” “Unfortunately,” said Crow,[Pg 127] “you have made a mistake. We had no desire to see you then, much less had we any wish to set eyes on you again.” [Pg 127] “I should think not!” blared the bullet-headed man. From the rest of the men came murmurs and angry words. “My visit,” said Westerham, “should be of considerable interest to you all. It is also of considerable interest to myself, as it proves that you act independently of Melun. I understood from him that you held no council unless he was with you.” “Are you his cursed spy?” cried the man on his right, rising from his seat and bringing his fist down with a bang on the table. “No,” said Westerham, looking the man straight in the face, “I am not.” “Sit down, Smith!” shouted Crow. The man sat down. “Now, my pretty gentleman,” Crow went on, “we have had enough of you, just as we have had enough of Melun, who has brought you into this business for no good so far as we are concerned, and we do not propose that matters should go any further; in fact, it is rather handy that you thought of coming down East to us, as otherwise we should have come up West to you.” “Indeed,” said Westerham, who was still smiling at Crow. “Yes,” Crow went on,[Pg 128] “you have saved us a great deal of trouble. You are a cool hand, Mr. Robinson, but we are just as cool. This spot was not chosen for its beauty; it was
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