"If I give you parole," he asked,
"will you believe me, and let us talk freely?"
"Yes," said I at length, slowly. "You are a liar; but I do not think you
will break parole."
"You gauge me with perfect accuracy," he answered. "That is why I wish
to talk."
I threw the pistol on the seat between us. "What is it you want to
know," I asked. "And again I ask you, why are you here, when you are
supposed to be in South Carolina?"
"I have business here. You cost me my chance out there in the West," he
answered, slowly. "In turn I cost you your chance there. I shall cost
you other things here. I said you should pay my debt." He motioned
toward my neck with his slim finger.
"Yes, you saved my life," I said, "and I have hated you for that ever
since."
"Will you make me one promise?" he asked.
"Perhaps, but not in advance."
"And will you keep it?"
"If I make it."
"Will you promise me to do one thing you have already promised to do?"
"Orme, I am in no mood to sit here and gossip like an old woman."
"Oh, don't cut up ugly. You're done out of it all around, in any case.
Belknap, it seems, was to beat both you and me. Then why should not you
and I try to forget? But now as to this little promise.
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