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 tified my own better judgment in so doing, why not tell me frankly what you've got up your sleeve?"

Up my sleeve?' Such an inelegant metaphor! One would think I was a prestidig'tator, what?"

Whenever Vance answered in this fashion it was a sign that he wished to avoid making a direct reply; and Markham dropped the matter.

"Anyway," he submitted, "you didn't have the pleasure of witnessing my humiliation, as you prophesied."

Vance looked up in simulated surprise.

"Didn't I, now?" Then he added sorrowfully: "Life is so full of disappointments, y' know."