"You fancy because Tom Hayhurst got hold of them once, it's any man's job. Well, it isn't. And Tom wouldn't have had the chance, only I was fool enough to bring them from Jo'burg to Cape Town. I deserved to lose them for not leaving them safe where they were. But I'm not taking any further risks. That packet of dummy letters is all I carry about... And I carry them with a purpose--the purpose of discovering such treacherous scoundrels as yourself. You're in Grey's pay. I know that... I found it out long ago. And you profess friendship for me... start out to win my confidence with the intention of robbing me--killing me, perhaps. You deserve to pay dearly for that. I've half a mind to shoot you... I'll punish you somehow." He got up, and, pocketing the revolver, approached menacingly. Lawless watched him in silence. Van Bleit, it was clear, meant mischief; and he was powerless to defend himself, incapable of hitting back. The knowledge of his helplessness galled him unspeakably. To have had his hands free! ... just his bare hands, and nothing more... "It's a safe game you're playing," he observed drily. "If I faced you with my bare fists you wouldn't take this tone." "Safe game or not," Van Bleit shouted, "I'm going to punish you, my boy. There's a treatment for treachery that has been found efficacious before." He snatched at a riding-whip which one of the men had dropped, and struck the strong quiet face he hated again and again with it, raising a dozen weals on the thin tanned cheeks. One blow cut Lawless' lip open, and the blood spurted out and ran down his chin, and stained the blonde moustache. At each blow he winced though he made no sound, but the wince gave Van Bleit immense satisfaction. The score he had to pay off against this man was heavy. To his influence he attributed the coldness of Zoe Lawless... That could only be expatiated with his life; but the taking of human life meant a risk Karl Van Bleit would not again lightly undertake. He had a morbid horror of the hangman's rope since it had dangled so perilously near his own neck. When he had flogged Lawless in the face, he flogged him again across the shoulders with even greater venom. This being borne without flinching, soon ceased to amuse him, and he flung the whip from him with an oath. "That's enough for the present, damn you! If we meet again you'll know what to expect. I shan't spare your life a second time... It's almost a pity," he reflected, inclination weighing against discretion, "to lose this chance of quieting you. Who's to know if I settle your account for ever?"