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Rh stiffened himself, "you are in my hands entirely, and you will have to take what I can afford. I told you so before."

"Why you told me perhaps I'd get two thousand—and now" I said.

"Look here, d'Escombe," he interrupted quickly, "you're entirely in my hands. You can't hurt me without hurting yourself. And I tell you I can only give you four hundred. We must bring off another coup very soon."

"I'm hanged if I do," I answered angrily. "I've done with you," and I rose.

"Don't be in a hurry," came the answer, suave and quiet. "Come over to me later on, and let's talk it over in peace."

"Very well, I will," and I think I shut up my mouth with a vicious snap. I was exceedingly cross and disappointed, and with a casual au revoir, left my guest to himself.

Now I had fortunately made one friend during my fortnight's stay at Monte Carlo—a young French doctor named Jules Fabris, who was studying medicine, and particularly bacteriology, in various capitals of Europe. On several occasions I had joined him at the big laboratory attached to the hospital, down in Monaco, and watched him at work with cultures, bacteria and germs of all sorts and