I suppose you don't
grudge me that?"
"You know very well I don't, J. J. But I wish you wouldn't play these
tricks with Simpkins. He's a man I don't like."
"You told me that last night," said Meldon, "and I agreed at once to
have him murdered."
"Of course I know that you like talking in that sort of way, and I
don't mind it a bit. It's your way of making jokes, and you don't mean
any harm by what you say; but I'd really rather not be mixed up with
Simpkins even by way of a joke. I don't like the man at all."
"Don't repeat that again," said Meldon. "I quite believe you. And as
for the murder of Simpkins being a joke, I assure you it's nothing of
the sort. I may be flippant--several people have called me
flippant--but I draw the line at making jokes about murder. It's a
serious subject. In fact I've more than once hesitated about going
into this business at all. It's mainly for your sake that I'm doing
it."
"Then don't do it," said the Major. "I know quite well that you don't
mean a word you say, but--"
"I mean it all. Am I the kind of man who says what he doesn't mean?
Come now, Major; you've known me a good many years, and we've been in
some tight places together.
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