The other smiled. "You know that the code is safe with me. That's my way. I would break Morelle or you for the matter of that--kill you with my hands before your servant could come--but the code would be with me. You know that, too." He met, had not feared to meet, the fury of Steppe's eyes and presently the big man turned away with a shrug. "You might," he said, speaking more to himself than to Ambrose Sault. "One of these days I'll try you out. I'm not a weakling and I've beaten every man that stood up to me." He looked round at the visitor and the anger had gone from his face. "I believe you about the safe. You're the first man or woman I've ever believed in my life. Sounds queer, huh? It is a fact. I'm not frightened of you--nobody knows that better than you." Sault nodded. "About Morelle--I'll talk to him. What is this girl--you're not in love with her yourself, huh? Can't imagine that. All right, I'll speak to Morelle--a damned cur. Anything more?" "Nothing," said Ambrose and went out. Steppe stared at the closed door. "A man," he said and shivered. No other man breathing had caused Steppe to shiver. He saw Ronnie at a club late that night. "Here, I want you," he jerked his head in the direction of a quiet corner of the smoking room, and Ronnie followed him, expecting compliments, for they had not met since the meeting. "You've got a parcel of women in tow, huh?" said Steppe. "I don't quite understand--" began Ronnie. "You understand all right. One of them is a friend of Sault's--Colebrook, I think her name must be. Go steady. She is a friend of Sault's. He says he'll break your neck if you monkey around there, do you get that, huh? Sault says so. He'll do it." Ronnie did not know Ambrose Sault any better than Ambrose knew him. The threat did not sound very dreadful and he smiled. "You can grin; maybe I'll see the same grin when I come to look at you on the mortuary slab. Sault is a hell of a bad man to cross. He has had his kill once and that will make the second seem like blowing bubbles. That's all." Ronnie was annoyed, but not greatly impressed. He only knew Sault as a sort of superior workman, who did the dirty work of the confederacy. Sometimes he used to wonder how Steppe employed him, but then he also speculated upon the exact standing of Moropulos whose name never appeared on a prospectus and who had, apparently, no particular duties.