“We thought you could tell us that.”

 

Spade looked at the Lieutenant with yellow-grey eyes that held an almost

exaggerated amount of candor. “I’ve never seen Thursby, dead or alive.”

 

Lieutenant Dundy stood up looking dissatisfied. Tom rose yawning and stretching.

 

“We’ve asked what we came to ask,” Dundy said, frowning over eyes hard as green

pebbles. He held his mustached upper lip tight to his teeth, letting his lower

lip push the words out. “We’ve told you more than you’ve told us. That’s fair

enough. You know me, Spade. If you did or you didn’t you’ll get a square deal

out of me, and most of the breaks. I don’t know that I’d blame you a hell of a

lot—but that wouldn’t keep me from nailing you.”

 

“Fair enough,” Spade replied evenly. “But I’d feel better about it if you’d

drink your drink.”

 

Lieutenant Dundy turned to the table, picked up his glass, and slowly emptied

it. Then he said, “Good night,” and held out his hand. They shook hands

ceremoniously. Tom and Spade shook hands ceremoniously.

 

Spade let them out. Then he undressed, turned off the lights, and went to bed.

 

3