I shall return good for evil;
instead of tying you up as you did me, I'll release you from your bonds
if you give me your word to remain quiet in this room until tomorrow
morning at eight, and not to disclose to anyone, before that hour, what
has occurred here."
"After that?" said Harleston.
"You shall be at liberty to depart and to tell."
"And if I do not give my word?"
"Then," said Crenshaw pleasantly, "we shall be obliged to bind you and
gag you and leave you to be discovered by the maid--which, we shall
carefully provide, will not be before eight tomorrow morning."
"You leave small choice," Harleston observed.
"Just the choice between comfort and discomfort!" Crenshaw laughed.
"Which shall it be, sir?"
Harleston had been shifting slowly from one foot to the other, feeling
behind him for the man with the garrote. He had him located now and the
precise position where he was standing--one of his own legs was touching
Sparrow's.
At the instant Crenshaw had finished his question, Harleston suddenly
kicked backwards, landing with all the force of his sharp heel full on
Sparrow's shin.
Instantly the garrote loosened; and Harleston, with a wild yell, sprang
forward and swung straight at the point of Crenshaw's jaw.
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