“I knew that I could get away with it.  I came over on the boat with him, and I knew he was travelling round the world and wasn’t going to stay more than a day in New York.  Even then I had to go some to get into this place.  Burke told me to get hold of old Chester and get a letter of introduction from him.  And here you come along and just stroll in and tell them you have come to stay!” He brooded for a moment on the injustice of things.  “Well, what are you going to do about it, Pal?”

“About what?”

“About us both being here?  Are you going to be sensible and work in with me and divvy up later on, or are you going to risk spoiling everything by trying to hog the whole thing?  I’ll be square with you.  It isn’t as if there was any use in trying to bluff each other.  We’re both here for the same thing.  You want to get hold of that powder stuff, that Partridgite, and so do I.”

“You believe in Partridgite, then?”

“Oh, can it,” said Lord Wisbeach disgustedly.  “What’s the use?  Of course I believe in it.  Burke’s had his eye on the thing for a year.  You’ve heard of Dwight Partridge, haven’t you?  Well, this guy’s his son.  Every one knows that Dwight Partridge was working on an explosive when he died, and here’s his son comes along with a test-tube full of stuff which he says could blow this city to bits.  What’s the answer?  The boy’s been working on the old man’s dope.  From what I’ve seen of him, I guess there wasn’t much more to be done on it, or he wouldn’t have done it.  He’s pretty well dead from the neck up, as far as I can see.  But that doesn’t alter the fact that he’s got the stuff and that you and I have got to get together and make a deal.  If we don’t, I’m not saying you mightn’t gum my game, just as I might gum yours; but where’s the sense in that?  It only means taking extra chances.  Whereas if we sit in together, there’s enough in it for both of us.  You know as well as I do that there’s a dozen markets which’ll bid against each other for stuff like that Partridgite.  If you’re worrying about Burke giving you a square deal, forget it.  I’ll fix Burke.  He’ll treat you nice, all right.”

Jimmy ground the butt of his cigarette against his plate.

“I’m no orator, as Brutus is; but, as you know me all, a plain, blunt man.  And, speaking in the capacity of a plain, blunt man, I rise to reply—­Nothing doing.”

“What?  You won’t come in?”

Jimmy shook his head.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Wizzy, if I may still call you that, but your offer fails to attract.  I will not get together or sit in or anything else.  On the contrary, I am about to go to Mrs. Pett and inform her that there is a snake in her Eden.”

“You’re not going to squeal on me?”

“At the top of my voice.”

Lord Wisbeach laughed unpleasantly.

“Yes, you will,” he said.  “How are you going to explain why you recognised me as an old pal before lunch if I’m a crook after lunch.  You can’t give me away without giving yourself away.  If I’m not Lord Wisbeach, then you’re not Jimmy Crocker.”