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Four
"So?"Mr.Vandemarspatonthebackofhishand,wheretheknifehadgonein,andonthepalmofhishand,wheretheknifehadcomeout.Herubbedatthespitwithamassivethumb.Thefleshclosed,knitted,waswholeagain.
Mr.Crouppickeduphisoldcoat,heavy,black,andshinywithage,fromthefloor.Heputiton."So,MisterVandemar,"hesaid,"shallwenotalsohireourselvesabodyguard?"
Mr.Vandemarslidhisknifebackintotheholsterinhissleeve.Heputhiscoatonaswell,pushedhishandsdeepintothepockets,andwaspleasantlysurprisedtofindanalmostuntouchedmouseinonepocket.Good.Hewashungry.ThenheponderedMr.Croup’slaststatementwiththeintensityofananatomistdissectinghisonetruelove,and,realizingtheflawinhispartner’slogic,Mr.Vandemarsaid,"Wedon’tneedabodyguard,MisterCroup.Wehurtpeople.Wedon’tgethurt."
Mr.Croupturnedoutthelights."Oh,MisterVandemar,"hesaid,enjoyingthesoundofthewords,asheenjoyedthesoundofallwords,"ifyoucutus,dowenotbleed?"
Mr.Vandemarponderedthisforamoment,inthedark.Thenhesaid,withperfectaccuracy,"No."
"AspyfromtheUpworld,"saidtheLordRat-speaker."Heh?Ishouldslityoufromgullettogizzardandtellfortuneswithyourguts."
"Look,"saidRichard,hisbackagainstthewall,withtheglassdaggerpressedagainsthisAdam’sapple."Ithinkyou’remakingabitofamistakehere.MynameisRichardMayhew.IcanprovewhoIam.
