Hughes leaned his back to the wall near the window and his gaze wandered from one to the other while the pistol dangled in his hand. He could not fail to observe the signs of the struggle.
“I seem to have interrupted a tête-à-tête,” he said sardonically. “What’s the tiff about?”
Labar measured his distance. A flicker of amusement passed over Larry’s face, and he lifted his weapon a little. The detective dropped back in his chair.
“This is a surprise, Larry,” he said amiably. “What’s brought you here?”
The other showed his white teeth in a grin. “Like the chivalrous idiot that I am, I have flown to the aid of beauty in distress.” He bowed to Mrs. Gertstein. “I feel compunctuous that circumstances held me from being earlier.”