"Since there is no reconciliation, we proceed." "You will please stand with your backs to one another." "It may amuse you to know, monsieur, I never believed you cheated at cards." "Maybe I don't have your sense of humour." "There's a lady who prefers your attentions to mine." "I intend to simplify her choice." "Rachel?" "Margot?" "No." "When I begin to count, you will each take ten paces." "You will turn and fire on the count of ten." "If either man stops or turns before the count is complete, it will be my distasteful duty to shoot him down." " Good luck." " Thanks." "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten." "Fool." "If he hadn't stepped aside, I'd have hit him in the shoulder." "Many of us will be sorry to see you hang." "Hang?" "They've never enforced the laws against duelling before." "The son of Judge Beaubien has never been killed before." "Most certainly he will have you arrested and hanged before the week is out." "I'm sorry." "It will take the incentive out of duelling." "I wouldn't wanna spoil it for the rest of you." "When one has proven himself on the field of honour, one cannot turn tail and run like a common criminal, can one?" "One can." "Paul Regret, cabin 39." "Well?" "I sent you to do an errand, Amelung." "He's registered as Paul Regret, cabin number 39." "He has no luggage." "You could have met this handsome chap without sending me to snoop out his name." "I think you just want to humiliate me." "I'll not need either of you until morning." "13, black, odd." "No winner." " 23, please." " 23 it is." "Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen." "Place your bets, please." "Five outside." "Nine inside." "The winner, nine." "Nobody there." " Place your bets, please." " Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen." "King outside." "Six inside." "Winner six." "Guess it isn't your night, sir." "23, red and high." "A winner!" "Madame!" "Madame has won." " Thank you." " Pardon me, young lady." "But the one value of my white hair is that I may address beautiful women without being thought presumptuous." "Will you favour an old man with this waltz?" "Thank you, but this dance is taken." "And here's the gentleman who has it." "Surely you remember we have this dance, Mr Regret?" "I have a poor memory, but not for matters of utmost importance." " Excuse us, sir." " With envy, young man." "Thank you, Mr Regret." "You saved me from a dreary fate." "He is a darling, but I..." "I am happy I was on the spot when you found yourself in such difficulty." "How did you know my name?" "That was fortunate." "I heard the head waiter address you." "I dare say the salon will be full of cigar smoke and loud talk about the price of cotton." "Salons usually are at this hour." "Too bad." "I would like a glass of wine." "May I suggest my cabin?" "Frankly, I prefer my cabin." "Shall we say number 127 in half an hour?" "It wasn't fair of me to come here." " Fair?" " I'm not worth the effort." "I haven't been lucky at the tables." "What do you take me for?" "A liar, to start with." "A beautiful liar, but a liar nevertheless." "No waiter has so far called me by my name." "I'm sorry, my dear." "But when the irate husband appears, you'll find the contents of my pocket not worth your trouble." " You think me a blackmailer?" " Or whatever." "Whatever your game is, the trophy is not worth the chase." " Look at my hand, please." " It's very graceful." "The smallest stone in that ring could buy and sell you, Paul Regret." "Why should I want money from you?" "Experience has taught me to look carefully at a gift horse." "Am I to believe you weighed, appraised and selected me out of all the men on the boat?" "Do not be too conceited." "It's not a very large boat." "We certainly have picked a wonderful evening to fall in love." "Don't be ordinary." "What passes between us tonight has nothing to do with love." "You don't believe that love exists?" "I believe this very night, all over the world, men and women are saying to each other" ""I love you" when what they really mean is "I desire you"." "You are a very unusual woman." "It is unusual to be honest." "I like independent women, but I also want the right to be able to choose my own." "Mr Regret." "You like independent women and I admire men who can't be bought." "I think we've misjudged each other." "It's three days to Galveston." "Shall we start again?" "To the beginning." "Wh..." "What?" "$300 for a suit of clothes." "Where I come from, we could outfit 30 men for that." " Who are you?" " The name's Cutter." "Jake Cutter." "Cap'n Texas Rangers." "This tailor's gonna be mighty unhappy when he don't get his money." "Course, he'll get a lot of advertising." "You wearing that $300 suit onto the gallows." " You can't do this." " Well, now, let's see." "This here says Monsewer Paul Regret." " That's Mr Paul Regret in English, ain't it?" " Yes." " You're under arrest." " I've committed no crime in Texas." "Right." "But you killed a man in Louisiana." "I'm taking you to the ranger headquarters where a Louisiana marshal will pick you up, take you back to New Orleans and the gallows." "We're getting real obliging to the states down here in Texas." "A lot of folks want to join the Union." "There's a couple of hundred in gold in thatjacket." "Does that give you any ideas, friend?" "I've got what you might consider a weakness." "I'm honest." "You start getting into that $300 suit." "And I ain't your friend." "Give me a minute to talk to someone." "It's very important." "A girl." "Have a heart, friend." "I've been trying to explain to you that I ain't your friend." "But I don't want anyone to accuse me of not having a heart." "I'd like it if she didn't have to see these." "Hide 'em in that hat." "Oh, uh..." "I wouldn't try any city-slicker stuff on this poor old country boy." " Well, she's gone." " Anybody can see that." "She said it was for ever." "Looks like country boys aren't the only ones who get lied to by gals." "I'll turn Galveston upside down." "I'll find her." "You're sort of forgetting, Monsewer." "I got a prior claim." "Regret." "Monsewer Paul Regret." " You say this trip'll take five days?" " Right." "Step aboard." " What, on this mule?" " On the mule." " Riding him's gonna slow us down." " Very sad." "But if you were to take off for the tall and uncut, I could run you down real easy." " How we gonna eat?" " Ever been out in the fresh air?" "A side of bacon, beans, a coffee pot and a frying pan?" " All the comforts of home." " Yeah." "All the comforts of home." "I'm beginning to hate this mule already." "He's got a mean look." "His name is Mabel." "Well, come on, Mabel." "Break out the coffee." "It's in your saddlebag." "Get it." "All right." "Unless you want this salt pork burned." "Captain Jake." "My friend, you're a very brave man." "And pretty soon you're gonna catch on I ain't your friend." "Captain Jake." "It's getting very tiresome lugging this saddle around." "I don't suppose you'd take my word of honour that I won't try to escape?" "Monsewer, you are a lulu." "What do you find that's so interesting about this miserable country?" "I used to own a cattle spread over there." " You were a rancher?" " Yeah." "2,000 head of longhorn." "Indians run you out?" "No." "They weren't any trouble then." "Not till a few years ago." "Something's stirring' them up now." " The drought get you?" " My wife died." "Oh." "That's unfortunate." "So I gave the spread to some right nice people." "Folks that used to work for me." "Well, I personally could never see marriage." "Seems like a fella'd always feel that curiosity about the next woman he was going to meet." "Lots feel that way." "Did once myself." "Hold it." "That's an Indian sign." "You're gonna live a lot longer if you follow after me." "Ya!" "I expect we'll find the little girl inside." "Did you know these people?" "Rode many a night herd with all of 'em." "I was at the baby's christening." "I guess that's about all we can do for 'em." "I hate to do this..." "Hey, Jake, that's a pretty good-looking mount you got there." "Hi, Jake." "You been horse-trading?" "How come you're riding a mule?" "Because I took to liking mules." "You got any objection?" " No, sir." " Or you?" "Or you?" "No, not me." " Hello, Tobe." "Major wanted to see me." " He'll be right back." "Say, how do you spell "Louisiana"?" "L-o-u-i..." " What do you wanna know for?" " I'm writing my pa a letter." ""Captain Jake went to pick up a prisoner wanted by the state of Louisiana."" ""He came back with a mule and a split head and no prisoner."" "I might have a "PS" for your pa." ""Dear Mulehead." "We didn't beat this boy enough when he was growing up."" " Major." " Hi, Jake." " I got a little surprise for you." " Yeah?" "Yeah." "Something that may prove that theory you've been bending our ears with." " You mean a gang running the Comanches?" " Yeah." "Picked up a fella with a wagonload of guns." "Come on back here." "I'm sorry." "Between you and me, I feel a sight better I was stopped." "Stopped before I went off and done some fool thing I might be ashamed of." "Like them guns." "Wouldn't be right if they fell into the wrong hands." "Might even got to the Comanches." "Now I look back on it, I can see how bad it was." "That's how come that I give myself up." "Yup." "After breaking one ranger's jaw and slicing up two others with a bowie knife." "I feel bad about that." "I wasn't using my head." "You used everything else." "Feet, fists and teeth." "Yes, sir." "But them rangers sure won me over." "If I'd have knowed men like that, I might never have fell in with bad companions." "Those are the fellas we wanna hear about, those bad companions." "And it's my Christian duty to tell you everything I know." "Which ain't nothin'." "Well, the truth is I ran into a man in Yuma." "He said I'd get the best price for my guns in Sweetwater." "Said if I'd go down to Sweetwater, check in a hotel, I'd be got in touch with." "But I never did find out who." "And that's the gospel truth." "You still don't know where you got those guns." "I've been beatin' my head tryin' to remember." "If I could only find that bill o' sale." "Those guns were stolen from the quartermaster depot on Fort Sill." "No!" "Well, then the man who sold 'em to me, he must have been mixed up in it." "If I'd have knowed that, I sure would have reported it." "I think he's telling the truth about one thing." "It's the first time he brought guns into Texas." "And the last." "Bless you for believing me, sir." "I believe you because I know where you spent the last five years." " The Yuma Territorial Prison." " Well, yes, sir." "But they had a right to lock me up." "I done a bad thing." "What with me not never having no schooling and knowing no better." "But now I'm all straightened out." "I been saved by the law." "Maybe the Comanche contact man won't know him by sight." "You want me to take his place?" "Take the guns to Sweetwater and meet the contact man?" "Hey, that ain't a bad idea." "And you're sure welcome to use my name, sir." "McBain." "Ed McBain." "Maybe that'll make up some for the way I almost disgraced it." "Think of me being mixed up with them." "Me, who ain't never been in no trouble before." " Well, not hardly." " All right, McBain." "Just a minute." "Might wanna do a little reading' tonight." "Either one of you gentlemen got an extra Bible?" "Oh, sure, Mr McBain!" "We been holding the room for ten days." "Never knew when you might be gettin' in." " Reckon that'll cost me extra." " Won't cost you nothin'." " It's all been taken care of." " Oh?" "Yes, sir, Your friend says to tell you your money ain't no good." "Says anything you want's on him." "It's one of the best rooms in the house." "Says to stay tight, spraddle out, and you'll be got in touch with." "That's room 19." "That's right up on the first floor, sir." "That's right, sir." " Am I in the right place?" " I guess so." "We were supposed to meet two gentlemen." "Well, ladies, you're halfway home." "Ed McBain at your service." "I'm Adabelle La Domergue and this is my friend Guadalupe." "Guadalupe Felipa Carmela López de Reyes." " Fuzzy for short." " Well, it's delightful to meet you, Fuzzy." " Who provided the refreshments?" " I really don't know." "They were already here when we ladies arrived." "Well, a toast to him, anyway." "Mr McBain, I just want you to know that we don't usually go out on blind dates but..." "Oh, no." "I..." "I'm afraid we have a previous engagement." "Last time we had the pleasure of your company, we was involved in four fistfights, a stabbing and a shooting... and all before midnight!" "Yee-ha!" "McBain, what'd you do with them guns?" "I tore your wagon apart and I didn't find 'em." "I found a false bottom but no guns." " You got 'em or ain't you got 'em?" " I buried 'em." "You what?" "What kind of a sneaking' somethin' is that?" "That is a damn distrustful way to start off a deal." "I didn't want 'em to fall into the wrong hands." "Well, you got me there." "But you're dealing with the right party now." "The name's Tully Crow." "You ain't done thatjug much damage." "Mind if I help myself?" " Go ahead." " Snuff?" "Cigar man." "Buried them guns, huh?" "That was smart." "Real inspitorial." "Six crates of rifles." "Yeah." "You figured somebody mightjust take 'em on approval." "Could've cooked the goose that lays the golden eggs." "How's that?" "If I hadn't made the right contact here, I'd have to sell the rest of 'em someplace else." " You got more?" " Steady supply." "Now that is somethin' I never knew." "So you can see how important it was to both of us to get started off right." "Yeah." "I'll give you $100 for every gun you got." "I understand the Comanches pay five times that." "What's this?" "Leave that be." "If I'd had that then, I wouldn't have this now." " You ever dealt with a Comanche direct?" " Can't say I have." "I did." "They took everything I had to sell and went after this." "What stopped 'em?" " Comancheros." "Fellas I'm dealing with now." " Comancheros?" "That's right." "Fellas with real fine connections with the Comanche." "They needed me." "I had a steady supply, just like you." "Only it ran out." "So now I'm willing to take on a partner." "When do we meet these Comancheros?" "You don't." "I do." "No good." "I go where these guns go." " Why?" " You're the only partner I got." "Or will have." "If anything happens to you, I'm out of business." "That's right." "So nothing better happen to me, huh, partner?" "So wrap yourself around your half of this jug and we'll go out on this town and celebrate." "# Now the moon shines tonight on pretty Red Wing" "# The breeze is sighing" "# The night bird's crying" "# Far away 'neath the stars" "# Her love is sleeping" "# While Red Wing's weeping" "# Her heart away" "How'd you like that, darling?" "Hearing my voice sound like a golden trumpet." "Come on, you swamp-toed jungle rat!" "Let's get ajug up here." "All right, all right." "Don't get bored." "I'm bringing it." "Not that stuff!" "The good stuff." " This is the good stuff!" " You think me and my partner are blind?" "Just walk slow, boys." "Go home to your firesides bright, huh?" " You shoot pretty good drunk." " Better drunk than sober." "You know what the secret it?" "Soothingness." "That's right." "Soothingness." "You see something I don't see?" "No, sir." "I don't see nothing." " You're looking at my scalp, huh?" " No, sir." "I ain't." "Well, I still got it, no thanks to you." "And right up here on top where it counts." "If you don't like it, you can do something about it." "I like it!" "Very much." "You like it very much?" "Maybe I can fix yours the same way." "Beat it." " What'd you do that for?" " Soothingness, partner." " Good old McBain." "Partners." " Partners." "Share and share alike." "And by that crimson settin' sun Peace come to Forest Glade" "And of the redskins there was none For history had been made." "Partner." "You win." "You fight a good fight, Ed." "I gotta give you that." "A little quiet around here." "Why don't you and me go someplace we can have some fun?" " Get a steak." " Good idea." "# Oh, the moon shines tonight on pretty Red Wing" "# On pretty Red Wing" "# The breeze is sighing..." "McBain." "I'm only as drunk as I wanna be, same as you." "Right, partner." "How we gonna round out the evenin'?" " Cigar?" " Thank you." "Why don't we dig up those guns and go sell 'em?" "Not yet, McBain." "Not yet." "We gotta grow on each other a little more, partner." "But I got one rule." "Never go to bed without making a profit." "Did you give any thought to that game back there?" "Let's give it a try." "All right, men." "Ante up, please." "Room for two more?" "For more men and more money if you don't mind being separated." "I might as well warn you boys I'm a bad loser." "I'm Ed McBain." " All right." " Bill Kane." " My name's Garth." " And my name's Tully Crow." "And the name of the game is five-card stud." "Cough up the dues." "Cut the cards if you're a traveller." "Good luck to everybody." "See you." " Three queens." " You're sure lucky tonight, brother." "You can't keep from winning tonight, can you, partner?" "They've been runnin' pretty good." "But not for me." "Seems least a man can do is let his partner win one now and then." " You couldn't win one if he let you." " How is that?" " You play too wild, mister." " Man's right." " Luck ain't got a thing to do with cards." " Not the way those cards was being dealt." "Now, you better do a little begging' your pardon." "What for?" "I don't mind losin'." "I just like to have a run for my money." " I'll give you your money back." " Don't do me no favours." "Just try dealing' a hand straight next time around." " No call for that kind of talk, mister." " You better watch your step, brother." "Let's remember we're gentlemen." "Forget it." "He's just spittin' out words to see where they splatter." "You think I miss much?" "You think I didn't see that look you passed to this cold-footed, slippery-fingered gentleman on my right when you sat down?" "How many partners you got in this game, partner?" "That's whisky talking, Crow." "You know better than that." "Whisky don't muddle me none." "And you better remember that next time you run your thumb over them cards." "There ain't gonna be no next time." "I'm gettin' out." " Give the change to the swabber." " No, you ain't out." "Not till I say so." "Time we both quit, Crow." "You don't like losing to me and I don't like winning from you." "Nobody's dropping out till I get my money back." "Mind a suggestion, friend?" "The trouble is you don't enjoy the game for its own reward." "Stimulation, relaxation, pleasant association and the interesting conversation." "Shut your mouth." "Keep your seat." "Don't cut in on this." "Crow, this isn't gonna get any better picking at it." "I don't want any quarrel with you." "We got a deal." "That's more important." "And, like I said, I'll give you your money back." " But I'm walking out." " You're gonna sit down." "You're gonna play poker." "It might take me longer to get it back that way, but you got time." "You took it quick enough." "We'll talk about that in the morning." "McBain, you try walkin' out on me now and see how far you get - deal or no deal." "You need me as much as I need you, Crow." "Give that some thought." "Self-defence, McBain." "My name ain't McBain, and you're under arrest." "Thanks for not giving me away, but... he's dead now." "It doesn't matter." " How do you know you killed him?" " There wasn't time not to." "On your feet!" "Give me that peashooter." "Unlock 'em." "I know you know how to handle one of these." "Dig." " Dig what?" " A hole." "Don't worry." "It's for takin' somethin' out." "You haven't asked why I use the name McBain." "Well, you're still a ranger, so you were working undercover." "Maybe you think you'd have been better off if you'd have just told Crow who I was." "Maybe." "Be glad you didn't." "Then I'd have killed you both." "Well, he made that easier than I would." "Yeah." "He was fast." "Fairly." "Fill that up again." "What for?" "You wouldn't want someone to fall in there and break their neck, would ya?" "Fill it up." "# Oh, the moon shines tonight on pretty Red Wing" "# On pretty Red Wing" "Well, it's not the moon shinin' out here." "It's the sun and it's hot." "It's real hot." "Not back here." "It's real cool." "Too bad there's not room for both of us." "If you'll permit me a statement." "This is very uncivilised." "Well, now, Monsewer, that's something nobody ever accused me of - being civilised." "Especially people who bend shovels over my head." "I presume you won't take my word of honour that I would behave if you permit me back in the wagon." "You presume right." "# Oh, the moon shines tonight on pretty Red Wing" "# On pretty Red Wing" "# Da da da-da da" "McLain!" "Have the men roll up their blankets and saddle up." "We move out in ten minutes." " Hello, Jake!" " Hello, Bender." "Whoa!" " Hi, Tobe." " Captain Jake." " Carson." " Hi, Jake." " What's all the ruckus about?" " About 200 Comanches on the Upper Brazos." "Ow!" "Major Henry has a patrol out warning the ranchers." " That thing hasn't healed up yet?" " Partly." " It'll be all right." " You can take it." "Who's that?" "Monsewer, you haven't got the sense of ajack rabbit." "Letting hot horses drink." "Keep 'em away from the water till they've cooled out." " Don't you know anything about horses?" " I know enough about horses." "When I want one I call a groom." "When I'm done, I call a groom to take him and the groom says "Yes, sir, Mr Regret."" " That's all I wanna know about horses." " You better cool off a little yourself." "I'm gonna let you founder if you want to, but not the horses." "Watch him." " Hello, Bub." " Hi, Mr Jake." " Major." " Hello, Jake." "I'm surprised to see you." "Who's your prisoner?" "That's the fella that escaped." "The $300-suit fella." " Uh-huh." "How did you wind up with him?" " It's a long story, Major." " Can we get in the shade?" " I don't know why not." " Here's some fresh water for you." " Oh, thanks." "That's sure some fancy shirt." "My ma's got one like that." "I never seen none on no man before." "Is this a ranger station?" "You're sure ignorant!" "Ain't you never seen a grain ranch before?" " What are the rangers doing here?" " Chasing Comanches." " Comanches?" "Indians?" " Sure." "The worst kind." "Everybody knows that." "Everybody but you, seems like." " How about Tobe?" " I'm leaving him with you." "I want him to rest his leg." "Say, Jake, uh..." "Think you can talk Schofield into moving into town till this trouble's over?" " I'll do the best I can, Major." " Thanks, Jake." "All right." "Move out!" " Have you watered the horses yet?" " You told me not to." "But they've cooled out now." "Here." "Then I gotta feed you." "Miss Schofield's cooking's too good for you." "Miss Schofield's busy." "Starting to have a baby." " Is that right?" " He'll have to eat Schofield's cooking." " Hiya, Jake." " Hello, Lem." " Got a little grain for your team." " Good." "Feed 'em." " I hear your missis is gonna have a baby." " Pretty soon, I guess." "Great." "With things the way they are, don't you think it'd be a good idea to get Martha out of here till the Indian trouble's over?" "I'm going to but Martha's having the baby." "I wanted to get in as much grain as I could." "I've just been putting it off." "I got another problem." "I gotta feed this prisoner." "Come here." "I don't want you cuffed to me and I don't wanna lose you." "I don't think you'll be too spry with this tucked under your arm." "It should hold him." "Let's get to the victuals." "Jim!" "Feed these horses, will you?" "Martha!" "We've got company." " Hello there, big Jake." " Hello, Martha." "Sorry to be using your house at a time like this." "There's no one I'd rather have than you, Jake." " Back again, Miss Schofield." " You're always welcome, Tobe." "Jake." "That young fella with you." "What's that he's carrying under his arm?" "Well, that's an anvil, Martha." "He's carrying an anvil." "Why ever would he wanna do that?" "He's become attached to it, sort of." "Now, you get back to resting." "We'll make out." "Jake, it's so good to see you." "Pa!" "You make sure Jake eats off the good china - the set him and Bess give us for our anniversary." "I will, Ma." "Seems like just the other day that you and Bess was sitting here, eating." "Time flies." "How long is it since she's been gone, Jake?" "About two years, ain't it?" "Two years, two months, 13 days." " You make yourself at home, young man." " Thank you." "Set that anvil up here, Monsewer." "Comanches!" " You got any rifles?" " In the corner." "Pretty good shooting for a handgun." "White men riding with Indians." "Comancheros." "That's what I've been trying to tell Major Henry." "Better get your head down, Jake, or you'll never tell him again." " Looks like they're pulling out." " Don't bet on it." " How are you fixed for ammunition?" " I could use some." " I need some." " I'll see what I can do." " Any more rifle shells?" " Top drawer, highboy." "Bub, keep that fire going!" "Look out!" "They're regrouping'." "Looks like you lost him again, Jake." "Hold it." "You may need that ammunition." "Kind of surprised to see you back." "I'm kind of surprised I came back." "Looks like this little fracas is about over." "I'll take that gun now." "He didn't make it." "Jake." "I'm gonna take the responsibility and move all of these settlers out." "Everybody west of the Llano River." "I figure you'll wanna see that Melinda and her daughter get out." "I planned to do that when I saw the size of this war party." " Major, there's one other thing." " Yeah?" "Regret." "That's too bad." "We owe him something." "But orders are orders." "I thought somebody could talk to Judge Breen." " If there's a way, the judge'll know it." " It'd help if you'd talk to him." "He doesn't take too kindly to me since I drew those fourjacks against his full house." "He just never was a good loser." "I'll be in Llano with the patrol three days from now, and I'll see you there." "Take a couple of horses and I'll bring your wagon." " It's a boy, gentlemen!" "A boy!" " Captain Jake!" "New blood in the Schofield family!" "He's as red as a lobster and fightin' mad, but he's a dandy." "We're gonna name him after you, Jake." "Cutter we'll call him." "Cutter Schofield." "I appreciate the honour, but I think we ought to name him Regret after Monsewer here." "If it wasn't for the Monsewer, our scalps'd be dangling from some Comanche tepee and this little tad'd never grow up to lie about Texas." "Regret Schofield." "Sounds nice." "May grow up to be president." " You can take big odds against that." " It's all settled." "Son, take Regret in to your mother." "Gentlemen, there's ajug in the wellhouse!" "After what happened back at Schofield's, you making me a godfather, aren't you carrying this thing a little too far?" "I feel bad about it, Monsewer." "If it was up to me, it'd be different." "Who else is it up to?" "There's just you and I." "I've thought on it a lot." "Gave myself a lot of argument." "But I just can't do it." ""Let him make a run for it" I say to myself." " Then what would you say?" " I'd say to myself "You can't let him run."" ""You swore an oath when they put that badge on you."" " That's important to you?" " I said I swore an oath." " Words." " Monsewer, words are what men live by." "Words they say and mean." "You must have had a real careless upbringing." "However..." "Now, please don't get any ideas." "Cos it'd break my heart did I have to put a bullet in your back." "It'd make me sad also." "You've been doing a lot of complaining about my cooking." "Get ready for the best meal in Texas." "Mommy!" "Mommy!" "Look who's here." "Uncle Jake." " Uncle Jake!" " How are you, honey?" " Where's your mommy?" " There." "Oh, this is Monsewer Paul Regret, Bessie." " How you doin'?" " Hi, Monsewer." " Hello, Jake." " Hello, Melinda." "I, uh... see that the fence has broken down again." "It only lasts from one of your visits to the next." "Well, I, uh..." "Oh, this is Monsewer Paul Regret." " How do you do?" " Mrs Marshall." "It's a pleasure to meet any friend of Jake's." "Well, thank you, ma'am." "My friend Jake here was telling me you're the best cook in Texas." "Isn't this a wonderful surprise, Mommy?" "And I've got a surprise for you, Bessie." "You're going to pack your things and go into town with Uncle Jake." "There may be some visitors here that aren't as welcome as us." " We'll be ready." " Oh, uh..." "Not until my friend here has tasted some real Texas cooking." "I hope I can live up to your bragging." "# Frère Jacques, frère Jacques" "# Dormez-vous?" "# Dormez-vous?" "# Sonnez les matines" "# Sonnez les matines" "# Ding dang dong" "# Ding dang dong" "Listen, Mommy." "We're singing in French." "Go get Mother the silver teapot that Uncle Jake gave us." "All right, Mommy." "# Frère Jacques..." " Bessie sings well." " She gets that from her father, I guess." "He had a fine voice." "You said your husband was dead four years." "Was it Indians?" "No." "He was killed." "The battle of San Jacinto." "When Texas won its independence?" "The same shell burst hit my husband and Jake and Sam Houston." " They were all standing together." " President Sam Houston?" "No, he wasn't president then." "That was before we were a republic." "Then Jake brought my husband's body home." "He made us move away from the frontier and take this place." "Your Bessie's named after Jake's wife." "We grew up together." "Everybody was so surprised when she married Jake." "They were so different." "He's so big and tough - at least on the outside." "And she was so tiny and so gentle." "But one never knows about those things." "They got along just fine." "Well, I better go inspect Bessie's progress." " Captain Jake?" " Yeah?" "Can you give me one good reason why you don't marry that woman?" "Why don't you mind your own business?" "I haven't got one good reason..." "that'd make sense to you." "Every time I quit to get married, that miserable, low-down silver-tongued Houston starts bending my ear about how Texas needs every man and every gun, what with this Comanche and renegade trouble." "But duty and patriotism doesn't make sense to you." " You think I'm simple-minded. - Yes, I do think you're simple-minded." "Well, don't make a point of saying that too often." "And once more'll be too often." " But I envy you." " You what?" "Two women in one man's lifetime." "Yeah, I really do envy you." "I guess you're right." "I'm God-given lucky." "It really happened to me." "At least I think it really happened to me." "I suppose I can't be too sure about it cos I just met the girl." "Well, it doesn't go by the calendar." "It either is or it isn't." "Time doesn't have much to do with it." "Yeah?" "Then it happened to me." " Why'd you let her get away?" " Because a big ugly character with a star snapped some handcuffs on me and dragged me away." " The woman at the boat?" " Yeah." "Well, I'm sorry, Monsewer." "Real sorry." "Captain Jake, I believe you." "I actually believe that you're really sincerely sorry." "You've got a lot of Cupid in you but, I must admit, Cupid picked a strange place to hide." "Monsewer, you may not live long enough to hang." "Your brougham awaits." "You go down and take care of the horses." "Remember I'm watching." "Ya!" " Take care of the team, will ya, Lem?" " Yes, sir." "Linda, this is a surprise." " Hello, Jake." " Hello, Mrs Breen." " Looks like we'll be on your hands awhile." " My, Bessie, how you have grown." " Where's the judge?" " In his office with some rangers." "You better go in and get located." "We'll take care of this stuff later." "Think this friend of yours will be of much help?" "I wouldn't hold out too much hope, Monsewer." "My conscience'll be clear." "I'll have done all I could to keep you from gettin' hung." "Oh, great." "As I drop through the trap, my last thought'll be "Well, big Jake did all he could."" " Evenin', Jake." " Judge." " This is Monsewer Paul Regret." " How do you do?" "I'm Thadeus Jackson Breen." "Judge of the Texas Circuit Court." "Most say - except them that's unfair-minded - that I'm the finest legal mind in the entire Southwest." "So you can have faith in your lawyer, son." " How much money you got?" " I don't have any." "I begin to doubt your chances against the law." "Judge, you're doing this one for nothing." "A workman is worthy of his hire." "Sure, but suppose these rangers start talking?" "About where a certain Judge was during a ranger raid on a certain section of this town." " I was advising a client." " And a pretty one she was, too, Judge." "Seemed to be hangin' on every word you said." "See, Regret?" "We don't aim to just stand by and see a fellow fighting man go down." "Not without doing everything that we can for him." " I don't understand." " Major here's told me what your troubles are." "I've thought it over in the light of my 40 years' experience in legal jurisprudence, and I've come to the positive conclusion that there ain't no way to do this legal and honest." "But, being good, sensible Texans, we'll do her illegal and dishonest." "All the boys here in the room have agreed to sign a paper I've prepared." "We're gonna all commit perjury." "That's legal language for a plain dumb-blasted lie." "Every man in this room's gonna swear that you are a member of the Texas Rangers, and have been for the last couple of years." "Ain't no possible chance you killed nobody in Louisiana." "Even Sam Houston himself wouldn't go up against the word of a dozen rangers." "So, my boy, you are a member of the finest underpaid organisation of men in the world." " I don't know what to say." " It's better than gettin' your neck stretched." "Well, thanks, men." "It isn't only modesty that makes me doubt I'll make a good ranger." "If I had some money, I'd buy you something to celebrate with." "Credit can be arranged." "My brother's saloon." "Sure!" "Honest Ben Breen." " Jake." " Yeah?" " Tobe insists he's the third man." " Oh." " I was born and raised in the Bend Country." " You're only 18 years old." "At 18, you were the only white man south of the Pecos." "You told us till we were sick and tired of hearing how you settled up Pecos Country." "We get to be bores as we get older." "He'll do." "Now, Tobe, keep this wagon in sight at all times." " Let us know you're around." " Don't worry." "I appreciate your volunteering, Regret." "Shows mighty fine spirit." "Good luck, men." "Did I volunteer for something?" "You weren't handy." "I knew you'd want me to speak up for you." "Jake, I often wonder what I ever did to deserve you." "Yee-ha!" "I've often had every penny I own on the turn of a card, but never my life on a bundle of feathers." " You claim to be a gambler, don't you?" " This may cure me permanently." "Our guardian angel's still on the job." "Why the mystery with the frying pan, sir?" "Why does he have to stay out of sight - alone in the middle of 1,000 miles of this ugly Texas country." "Don't you bet on that, gambler." "An Indian speciality is not being seen." "Kick out the fire." "Cutter." "Put it away." "They're tame." " Tame?" "Tame Indians?" " Tame as dishwater." "Well, I think we can afford one cigar." "Huh?" "Oh, no." "No whisky." "Tame Indians!" "How do you tell the difference?" "How do you know these from the wild ones?" "It's pretty hard to explain to a city fella." "But you take like that snake there at your feet." "Don't shoot him, he's a gopher snake." "He's a friend." "He eats mice and rats." "We'll put him in the shade." "You see those darker markings?" "Crosspatch overlay?" "Makes him look like a rattler, but you can see a thousand like that one." "And when you see your first rattlesnake, you'll know the difference." "You still haven't told me how you tell a Comanche from a tame Indian." "It's just like your first rattler." "One look and you'll know." "Come on." "Get aboard." "Ya!" "Big country." "Is this where we'll find the Comancheros?" "You could hide the state of Louisiana here and never find 'em if they didn't want you to." "That's ourjob, finding' 'em." "Or letting' them find us." "Well, old Tobe is still on the job." "You know, I'm tryin' to go along with your thinking." "But do you really believe that emblem will convince a Comanche that we're gunrunners?" " It had better." " Yeah." "What's the matter?" "I don't know." "Comanches!" "He's alone." "I hope that Tobe isn't taking a nap." "Well, we're about to find out whether this passport'll work." "Comancheros!" "Comancheros!" "Rifles!" "Comancheros!" "I wish I had more practice at praying." "Comancheros!" "Comancheros!" "Over here, my friends!" "Whisky!" "Over here!" "Whisky!" "Here, whisky!" "Over here, my friends." "Whisky!" "You got a unique way of paying off your help around here." "Who's ramrodding this outfit?" "You'll find out." "What do you want?" "Monsewer, break open that false wagon bed." "My name's McBain." "I got guns and I wanna do business." "72 rifles... just like this one." "Pass 'em out." "Let the boys handle 'em." "Hold it!" "You must be the boss man." "We brought 72 of these." "Just like this... except without firing pins." "Be useless to you unless you do business with us." "Your presence here has made me very happy." "Bastinado!" "The pretty man from the boat." "It's gonna get awful thirsty around here." "Better think of a new plan, Jake." "This one didn't work out so well." "The hell it didn't." "We found the hide-out, didn't we?" "Yeah." "I wonder if they know how much trouble they're in." "Water." "Give me some water." " Who ordered this?" " Amelung." "Cut them down and take care of them." " Cut them down and care for them." " This was orders." "I said cut them down!" "Oh!" "The top of my head feels like an overdone pancake." "Say, you never did tell me what happened to me after I was knocked out." "Well, a handsome young woman on a horse came along." "She must have figured it was Saturday night and we needed a bath." "Pretty boy, hurry it up." "We're waitin' for you." "I can do without the endearing words." " We going somewhere?" " Trial." " Trial?" " See whether you live or die." "You'll die." "I always figured to die." "Question is, when?" "Just hurry it up." "You have broken a law of the society." "The penalty is death." "Does the society approve?" "Don't kill them!" "I beg you!" "I beg you!" "You may still wonder when, big man, but now you know how." "We go, my friends." "Got another one of those fellas uses that "my friend" stuff real careless." "Quiet!" "Quiet!" "Get back to your seats!" "Be civilised, my people." "We have guests today." "There's work to be done." "Gentlemen, you come among us uninvited." "The penalty for that is death." "This society survives by its secrecy only." "You haven't violated that by entering here, but you could if you left here." "And it is our intention to see to it that this secrecy is never violated." "Now, as to this story of yours that you will bring us rifles without firing mechanisms, take out our money and return with other rifles, and the firing mechanisms of the first shipment..." "I admit, it has the merit of being well thought out." " You say your name is McBain?" " Ed McBain." "We know of a McBain." "And it's told that this" "McBain killed a man of ours in Sweetwater." "You mean Crow?" "Fella with the half-scalped topknot?" " You killed him?" " Seemed like the thing to do at the moment." "It hardly surprises to me to hear that Crow got himself killed." "If his occupation didn't, his manner would." "Your name is Paul Regret?" "That is his name." "His occupation is gambler." " Pilar!" " We meet again." "I told you, sir." "That is the man she went back to search for." "Many wasted days trying to find him again." "He left New Orleans after killing a man." "The other man I don't know." "He killed Crow, which speaks well for his speed with a gun." "It doesn't give him the right to enter the place of our society or to live, after having discovered its whereabouts." "It is clear they know, so they die." "It is a rule." "A rule you made many years ago and enforced many times." "It is of little concern to me what you do, though I say it would be intelligent to deal with them." "They offer us a continuing supply of up-to-date weapons instead of the few old-fashioned rifles we get from the South." "Do as you will." "Just remember that you expect me to take over responsibilities." "Therefore I presume you would be willing to heed my opinion." "But if you prefer to placate that bloodthirsty mongrel of yours, then kill them." "I tell you, she has a personal interest in this man." "That is why she urges us to deal with him." "Amelung, you're a fool." "I've raised her never to let emotion cloud ajudgment, which is what you're doing at this moment." "Yourjealousy is apparent and it's warping yourjudgment." "That is all." "Bring those prisoners to my quarters!" " Esteban." " Pilarcita." "Look over there." "The taller of the two men." "Have you seen him before?" "Galveston?" "We were getting off the boat in the grey dawn, and he was boarding just as it docked." "Oh, yes." "Now I remember." "You know, McBain, that plan of yours about the guns delights me." "It starts from the basic proposition that nobody is trustworthy." "We couldn't double-cross each other if we tried." "I can't wait to see the look on Amelung's face." "Don't get the idea that my reproof of" "Amelung indicates that I've adopted you two." "I must put him in his place now and then." "Help yourself to some wine." "What do you think of our place, McBain?" "It took a lot of lookin' to find just such a layout." "I stumbled on it some 30-odd years ago." "I was a different man physically, as you'll gather." "At that time, there was a motley collection of people dealing with the Indians." "I brought organisation to the business." "May I call your attention to the powder mill?" "We make our own powder." "The nitrates come from our own mines, the saltpetre from deposits to the south." "You're a travelled man, Mr Regret." "What do you think of it?" "Seems to lack nothing." " You've done very well." " I think so." "Lest you think all of this talk is the idle chatter of a broken chairbound man," "I tell you this for a reason." "We have a society here, a society that's different from anything visualised by people anywhere in the world." "The rules of this society are magnificently simple." "Transgress and you die." "Long and painfully." "Look over there." "Not a pretty picture, is it?" "A Chinese philosopher once said that a picture is worth a thousand words." "He stole." "We, a society of thieves, cannot tolerate stealing from each other." "Take a long look over there and decide whether or not you intend to faithfully follow the rules of our society." "Gordo." "I'll send for you in due time." "I'll bet that old boy was a man to stand aside from when he was young and limber." "Right now, if he took a dislike to you, you could get yourself killed in a hurry." "What bothers me is finding that girl here." " Where do you know her from?" " I know her - or knew her briefly." "Briefly?" "You must have made quite a dent." "She seems to favour us staying alive, or at least you." "That was the girl on the boat." "Oh." "We got ourselves two problems." "But the first one's to stay alive." "Toward dark, Major Henry and the boys are gonna come over that hill and we'd better have a place to fight from." " Fight with what?" " Naturally, when the war breaks out, we're gonnajump a couple of these gentlemen and borrow their guns." "Well, naturally." "So natural that I overlooked it." "You take off the road in this direction, and keep your eyes peeled." " I'll go the other way." " All right." "Miss Graile?" "This is the first chance I've had to thank you for getting us out of the sun." " You're welcome." " In a way, I feel I don't owe you any thanks." "If it weren't for that good-looking fella, by now I'd be approaching the well-done." " How long have you known Paul Regret?" " Off and on for quite a while." "I'm beginning to doubt if it was wise to save him." "From now on, he'll be insufferable." "You're not exactly making yourself clear." "That fool Amelung had to shout I went searching for Paul." "Now he'll be so sure of me, he'll be impossible to manage..." "Or so he thinks." "But I shall find the opportunity to teach him otherwise." "Oh, I'm sorry." "I'm just... glad that I'm not your age or Regret's." "I went through all that." "Me and my wife used to fight like a couple of wildcats with only one tree between us." "But you soon find out that it doesn't make a tinker's damn who's got the upper hand." "A few years roll by and you kinda settle down to being at ease with each other." "Then life gets worth living." "In every relationship between human beings, one is dominant and one is subservient." "The way you make it sound, life'd be one long war." " Isn't it?" " Missy, you got a lot of surprise coming." "Some good, some bad." "Mr McBain!" "Speaking of surprises, Mr McBain, there's something..." " Is that Chief Iron Shirt?" " Yes." "Now we'll have a celebration." "All of his visits call for one." "First time I've ever seen him in the flesh." "Mr McBain, I might enjoy prolonging this conversation with you but for one thing." "Your name." "Naturally, it's not McBain." "Well, a man in my business uses many names;" " Just what is your business?" " At the moment, I'm a gunrunner." "Three weeks ago, as I was getting off the boat in Galveston, you went aboard." "You wore a Texas Rangers star on your shirt." "You're poised, Mr, uh..." "whatever your name is." "What for?" "Flight?" "Where could you go?" "To fight?" "You are unarmed and there are hundreds of us." "You're the coolest character I ever met." "What happens now?" "I don't know." "Hello, Pilar." "Women." "How can you figure 'em?" "She's been chasin' me for three weeks." " Saves my life and now she won't talk to me." " Saved my life, too." "I don't think you better put that girl in a class with any of the other girls you've known." "She'll never act the way you figure." "As a matter of fact, I wish I knew how she was gonna act about a certain little matter." "She knows I'm a ranger." "Told me so in no uncertain terms." "We better get to that corral and get us some horses." "Try to make it to the top?" "What chance'd we have?" " Not much..." " No chance at all." " We can jump those Comancheros..." " Monsewer, you've changed." "I thought you were the fella that took care of number one." "Well, I've gotten used to you." "We'll just sit tight." "The girl's got a problem." "She points her finger at me and hollers "Ranger", your head goes too." "She seems to put quite a value on you." "So we'll just hold on for a few hours and give Tobe a chance." "If they keep this up, they'll save the rangers the trouble." "Probably kill themselves all off." "Paul." "Paul, there's some..." "I've been wanting to do that for a long time." "Paul, there's something I've got to tell you." "Pilar." "I hope I'm not intruding." "Mr McBain!" "I'd like to invite you to join us for dinner tonight." "I suppose that good manners force me to include your romantically inclined friend." "You'll find she has a mind of her own." "Gordo." "After sundown on the terrace." "It looks like the condemned men'll eat a hearty dinner." "Let's go." "Move out!" "Gracias, señor." "Esteban!" "300 more for him." "Oh, gentlemen." "If you'll excuse me for about ten minutes." "Business." "Gordo, give them some refreshments." " Don't mind me." " I'm glad you're here." "I've been trying to tell you all day." "Your friend has one chance." "A horse and provisions for you will be waiting by the stairs." "You can escape sometime tonight." " Will there be a gun in the saddle?" " Don't make conditions." "How naive do you think we are?" "If he's followed, he'll never make it to the top of the rim." " You refuse to accept my plan?" " Well..." "Shut up." "Keep losing your patience and then we'll find out what happens next." "All right." "I've done all I can." "You're on your own." "So." "Unless I let your man kill him, and stay here with you like a maquereau..." " That's French..." " I know what it means, mon cher ami." "It's pretty obvious that you feel I'm unique." "Oh, your modesty is your most appealing quality." "You backtracked trying to find me again." "And I feel the same way about you." "We can't stay here together." "You can't stay in Texas, being wanted by the authorities." "So we'll go somewhere else." "Anywhere else." "Just you and me." "How do I know you're not lying?" "You don't." "There's no way you can prove that I'm not lying." "Every time a man and a woman talk like this to each other, neither can prove to themselves that they aren't being lied to." "Pilar, what all this adds up to is that I love you." "And there's no way you can tell whether I'm not lying." "You believe or don't believe." "Good evening, friend." "Excuse me, Pilarcita." "I've been told to have the wagon brought here at dawn so that these two men may leave." "But I'll bring it myself so there's no mistakes." "Thank you, Esteban." " Viejo?" " Yeah?" "How about a light?" "El grande mucho." " Muchísimas gracias." " De nada." "You must give me your opinion about the wine we're having." "Our own grapes, you know." "Oh, it would be a shame to have our guest of honour drown in a plate of soup." "Gentlemen, you must forgive the noble chief." "His semi-annual visits are a great occasion." " Papa." " Yes?" "I'm leaving here for ever." "I'm going away with Paul." "This is no life for me and this is no place for you." "How frail is human judgment, particularly the female's." "It would be common sense to pick the big ugly one and not the handsome one." "He has definite indications of character in his face." "That big nose that someone broke at one time, the scars above the eyebrows all show that at one time he has enforced, or tried to enforce, his will upon others." "Obviously a man of great determination." "Thank you, Mr Graile." "Compliments are always welcome, no matter what the source." " A wonderful man!" " Papa, stop this!" "I'm in no mood." "I'm leaving and I wish you would leave, too." "Iron Shirt can get you to the south and from there, the world is wide." "You can go where you choose." "Why should I die in a place other than the one I made for myself?" " Why are you so anxious that I leave?" " This place is no longer safe." "The authorities know its location." "I'm afraid the noble chief may not rejoin us." "He inherited that armour from his grandfather who fought the Conquistadores." "I leap to the conclusion that you are the authorities." "I was afraid that the little lady's remark would spill the beans." "Now, Papa, in a very short time, a company of rangers is gonna come boiling in here, and you'll hurry your end if you don't behave." "Mr McBain, you're introducing a discordant note here." "He followed these two." "They signalled back and forth." "Ah, what a shame." "It looks like company's not coming." "Mr McBain, would you mind handing over your pistol?" "Monsewer... charge." "What's your story?" "Saving bullets?" "Couldn't afford the sound of a shot." " You looked to be doing all right." " For a while there, it was even money." " Now, Papa..." " Not quite, Mr McBain." "Gordo!" "Well, get him off me!" " Is that a closet?" " Yes." "Keep a lookout on the terrace." "My daughter forgets that in the eyes of Texas justice, she may not be an innocent party." "You know the oath you put so much faith in, the words men live by?" "Make up your mind to this." "When we get over the top o' the rim, we're parting' company." "You can take him north, but she and I are goin' south." " Mexico?" " For a start." "There's 1,000 miles of Indian territory." "Apache and Yaqui." "I figure she's worth it." "You made it, Monsewer!" "That's love." "You're all fools." "But it's fun sometimes, particularly when you're their age." "You really think you'll make it, huh?" "You ordered the wagon." "And now, Papa, we'll just sit quietly and wait." "He was only 18 years old." "I'm going to take particular delight in seeing you hang." "Esteban, I ask you to endure great risk for me." "Esteban, make your choice." "All trussed up like a pigeon ready for market." "Bring those rifles and cartridges." "Yahoo!" "Comanchero!" "Comanchero!" "Comanchero!" "Charge, Monsewer!" "Hand me that lantern!" "Look!" "Paul!" "Yah, it's the rangers!" "The best in Texas!" "Ha-ha!" "Load this." "Well, Monsewer." "Looks like I've lost you again." "Mr McBain, or whatever your name is, we'll miss you." "We've kind of gotten used to you." "Big Jake!" "Don't forget to mend those fences."