I looked at Dinah, looked puzzled, I suppose. She shrugged and told me:
“It seems to be Dan’s party.”
“Yeah? Somebody ought to tell him I don’t like to play this way.”
Rolff repeated: “Put down your pistol.”
I said disagreeably:
“I’m damned if I will. I’ve shed twenty pounds trying to nab this bird, and I can spare twenty more for the same purpose.”
Rolff said:
“I’m not interested in what is between you two, and I have no intention of giving either of you—”
Dinah Brand had wandered across the room. When she was behind Rolff, I interrupted his speech by telling her:
“If you upset him now you’re sure of making two friends—Noonan and me. You can’t trust Thaler any more, so there’s no use helping him.”
She laughed and said:
“Talk money, darling.”
“Dinah!” Rolff protested. He was caught. She was behind him and she was strong enough to handle him. It wasn’t likely that he would shoot her, and it wasn’t likely that anything else would keep her from doing whatever she decided to do.
“A hundred dollars,” I bid.
“My God!” she exclaimed, “I’ve actually got a cash offer out of you. But not enough.”