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Return of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs
page 141 of 343 (41%)
eaves of the mud building. Tarzan could just reach the sill. He
raised himself slowly until his eyes topped it. The room within
was lighted, and at a table sat Rokoff and Gernois. Gernois was
speaking.

"Rokoff, you are a devil!" he was saying. "You have hounded me
until I have lost the last shred of my honor. You have driven me
to murder, for the blood of that man Tarzan is on my hands. If it
were not that that other devil's spawn, Paulvitch, still knew my
secret, I should kill you here tonight with my bare hands."

Rokoff laughed. "You would not do that, my dear lieutenant," he said.
"The moment I am reported dead by assassination that dear Alexis
will forward to the minister of war full proof of the affair you
so ardently long to conceal; and, further, will charge you with
my murder. Come, be sensible. I am your best friend. Have I not
protected your honor as though it were my own?"

Gernois sneered, and spat out an oath.

"Just one more little payment," continued Rokoff, "and the papers
I wish, and you have my word of honor that I shall never ask another
cent from you, or further information."

"And a good reason why," growled Gernois. "What you ask will take
my last cent, and the only valuable military secret I hold. You
ought to be paying me for the information, instead of taking both
it and money, too."

"I am paying you by keeping a still tongue in my head," retorted
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