"You mean----?"
"I mean Lieutenant Secor."
"Oh, him!" and again came the deprecatory shrug of the shoulders. "He is
an acquaintance, not a friend. Besides, he has but one lamp, and he
needs that. So, also, will you need yours. But as there are three of you
together, I thought perhaps----"
"We each have a light," said Blake, interrupting the rather rapid talk
of Labenstein. "In fact, I have two, and I'll let you take one."
"That is very kind of you. Ah, it is like mine!"
The visitor was watching Blake eagerly as he brought forth one of the
flat, three-cell nickel-plated holders of tiny batteries, with the
white-backed and tungsten-filamented incandescent light set in a
depressed socket.
"Yes, this is the best type," Blake said. "You may have this."
"And the price?" asked Labenstein, as his hand quickly went into his
pocket.
"Is nothing," answered Blake. "It is a gift."
"Ah, but, my dear sir, that is too much! I could not think of taking it
without pay!" insisted Mr. Labenstein, as he flashed on the light and
then slipped the switch back in place again. "I protest that I must pay
you."
"Please don't insist on paying," begged Blake, "for I shall only have to
refuse to take any money.
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