"Imply?" he repeated slowly. Then the significance of it seemed to
dawn on him, the possession of the dagger and its implication in
regard to the murder of Mendoza. "Well," he answered, "we haven't
the dagger. You know that. But, on the other hand, we think our
plans for getting at the treasure are better than any one else has
ever had, more certain of success."
"Yet the possession of the dagger, with its inscription, is the
only thing that absolutely insures success," observed Kennedy.
"That's true enough," agreed Whitney. "Confound that man Norton.
How could he be such a boob as to let the chance slip through his
fingers?"
"He never told you of it?" asked Kennedy.
"Yes, he told me of the dagger, but hadn't read the inscription,
he said," answered Whitney. "I was so busy at the time with
Lockwood and Mendoza, who had the concession to dig for the
treasure, that I didn't pay much attention to what Norton brought
back. I thought that could wait until Lockwood had been persuaded
to join the interests I represent."
"Did Lockwood or Mendoza know about the dagger and its
importance?" suggested Craig.
"If they did, they never said anything about it," returned Whitney
promptly.
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