and stared at nothing:

"I know," he said. "I understand now. I am here to-night to pay
the reckoning."

"You can't pay it."

"No, not the whole score. There's another bill, I suppose, waiting
for me--somewhere. But I can settle my indebtedness to you--"

"How?"

"That's up to you, Drene."

"How?" repeated Drene, violently.

Graylock made a slight gesture with his head toward Drene's sagging
pocket: "That way if you like. Or," he added, "There is a harder
punishment."

"What is it?"

"To give her up."

"Yes," said Drene, "that is harder. But I can make it even harder
than that. I can make it as hard for you as you made it for me. I
can let you live through it."

He laughed, fisted in his pocket, drew out the lumpy automatic and
leisurely pushed the lever to "safe."