Part 10 (1/2)

'So,' he said, and whistled another bar of 'Annie Laurie'

'Twisdon's the name, isn't it?' he said over his shoulder, his eyes still fixed on the streaotten all about my alias

'It's a wise conspirator that knows his own naed froe's shadow

I stood up and looked at him, at the square, cleft jaw and broad, lined brow and the firan to think that here at last was an ally worth having His whio very deep

Suddenly he frowned 'I call it disgraceful,' he said, raising his voice 'Disgraceful that an able-bodied et a et no , driven by a young one, he picked up his rod

'That's ate a hundred yards on 'Wait five o round to the back door' And with that he left e with a lawn running down to the strea the path The back door stood open, and a grave butler aitinga passage and up a back staircase to a pleasant bedroo towards the river There I found a complete outfit laid out for s, a brown flannel suit, shi+rts, collars, ties, shaving things and hair-brushes, even a pair of patent shoes 'Sir Walter thought as how Mr Reggie's things would fit you, Sir,' said the butler 'He keeps soular on the week-ends There's a bathroom next door, and I've prepared a 'ot bath Dinner in 'alf an hour, Sir You'll 'ear the gong'

The grave being withdrew, and I sat down in a chintz-covered easy-chair and gaped It was like a pantoardom into this orderly coh why he did I could not guess I looked at ard brown felloith a fortnight's ragged beard, and dust in ears and eyes, collarless, vulgarly shi+rted, with shapeless old tweed clothes and boots that had not been cleaned for the better part of a month I made a fine tramp and a fair drover; and here I was ushered by a priracious ease And the best of it was that they did not even know my naifts the Gods had provided I shaved and bathed luxuriously, and got into the dress clothes and clean crackling shi+rt, which fitted lass showed a not unpersonable young -room where a little round table was lit with silver candles The sight of him--so respectable and established and secure, the eovernment and all the conventions--took me aback and made me feel an interloper He couldn't know the truth about me, or he wouldn't treat me like this I simply could not accept his hospitality on false pretences

'I'ed to you than I can say, but I's clear,' I said 'I'ot to tell you this, and I won't be surprised if you kick ht Don't let that interfere with your appetite We can talk about these things after dinner' I never ate aall day but railway sandwiches Sir Walter did ne and had some uncommon fine port afterwards Itthere, waited on by a foot for three weeks like a brigand, with every er-fish in the Zaive thelobe, for he had hunted a bit in his day

We went to his study for coffee, a jolly room full of books and trophies and untidiness and coot rid of this business and had a house of my own, I would create just such a rooot our cigars alight, s over the side of his chair and bade et started with my yarn

'I've obeyed Harry's instructions,' he said, 'and the bribe he offeredto wake me up I'm ready, Mr Hannay'

I noticed with a start that he calledI told of ht I had co on my doorstep I told hin Office conference, and that ot to the ain He heard all about theScudder's notes at the inn

'You've got the breath when I whipped the little book fro of the contents Then I describedwith Sir Harry, and the speeches at the hall At that he laughed uproariously

'Harry talked dashed nonsense, did he? I quite believe it He's as good a chap as ever breathed, but his idiot of an uncle has stuffed his head with ots Go on, Mr Hannay'

My day as roadman excited him a bit He made me describe the two fellows in the car very closely, and seeain when he heard of the fate of that ass Jopley

But the old ain I had to describe every detail of his appearance

'Bland and bald-headed and hooded his eyes like a birdHe sounds a sinister wild-fowl! And you dynae, after he had saved you from the police Spirited piece of work, that!' Presently I reached the end of ot up slowly, and looked down at

'You may diser from the law of this land'