"He
will not come without this one man. As for the others of his band, not
one shall be within a league."
"Himself and one man," said De Berquin, musingly. "That is to say, two
very able fighters."
"There are five of you."
"But this Tournoire is doubtless worth three men in a fight, and his man
will probably be worth two more. I don't think your offer sufficiently
attractive. I think I would do better to kill you. Certainly, there are
many reasons why you should die. If you should escape me now, as you are
one of La Tournoire's people, you would immediately go to him and tell
him of my presence here. I do not choose that he shall know as much about
me as you do."
"Can you suggest any amendment to my offer, so that it might be more
attractive?"
"If you could bring La Tournoire unarmed--"
"I will do that," I said.
De Berquin looked at me steadily for some time. At last he shook his
head and said:
"It is a fair bargain, as it now stands, but I see no way of your
carrying out your part without putting me in danger of your betraying
me. To find La Tournoire, you would have to leave us. Once out of our
sight, you would be free to ignore the contract, laugh at me for being
so easily gulled, and set La Tournoire and his men on me, which would
entirely spoil my plans. Every minute I see more and more the necessity
of killing you."
"But I shall find La Tournoire without going out of your sight," I said.
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