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Rh sort. I know your sort, and I won't say you're not right. Only it's apt to be a bit unfortunate for both of us."

"You mean that I can no longer count on your friendship?" I asked.

"No more than I can count on your help!" he snapped. "Mind you, I'm not going to order your assassination or anything of that sort; but, if you decline to take up the work and Chu-Chu decides to come to terms, I can't have him interfered with. Naturally I've got to protect my own man."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Just this, Monsieur Clamart," said Ivan, looking me squarely in the eyes. "If you want to prolong your life you will have to leave the country. So long as you leave Chu-Chu alone all right and good. I need him for my business."

"Then order Chu-Chu to leave me alone," I answered.

"He wouldn't obey. Chu-Chu means to kill you or have you killed; but, as for your killing him"—he lowered his head and looked at me fixedly—"take my advice, Monsieur Clamart," says he, wagging his slender index finger at me, "and leave Chu-Chu alone. That is all."

Well, it was enough. At least, he'd put the case plainly. So long as Chu-Chu was working for Ivan I could hunt his scalp only at the risk of my own, though Chu-Chu was perfectly free to murder me. On the other hand, I had nothing to fear from Ivan so long as I left Chu-Chu alone. It was all logical enough. If I didn't like the situation I could always get out of the country; but there was my