“Two hundred.”
“You’re getting reckless. But I still can’t hear you.”
“Try,” I said. “It’s worth that to me not to have to shoot Rolff’s gun out of his hand, but no more than that.”
“You got a good start. Don’t weaken. One more bid, anyway.”
“Two hundred dollars and ten cents and that’s all.”
“You big bum,” she said, “I won’t do it.”
“Suit yourself.” I made a face at Thaler and cautioned him: “When what happens happens be damned sure you keep still.”
Dinah cried:
“Wait! Are you really going to start something?”
“I’m going to take Thaler out with me, regardless.”
“Two hundred and a dime?”
“Yeah.”
“Dinah,” Rolff called without turning his face from me, “you won’t—”
But she laughed, came close to his back, and wound her strong arms around him, pulling his arms down, pinning them to his sides.
I shoved Thaler out of the way with my right arm, and kept my gun on him while I yanked Rolff’s weapons out of his hands. Dinah turned the lunger loose.
He took two steps toward the dining room door, said wearily, “There is no—” and collapsed on the floor.