Part 34 (1/2)
CHAPTER XVIII. A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE
Tavernake was not sociably inclined and took no pains to conceal the fact. Mr. Pritchard, however, was not easily to be shaken off.
”So you've been palling up to the old man, eh?” he remarked, in friendly fas.h.i.+on.
”I came across the professor unexpectedly,” Tavernake answered, coldly.
”What do you want with me, please? I am on my way home.”
Pritchard laughed softly to himself.
”Say, there's something about you Britishers I can't help admiring!” he declared. ”You are downright, aren't you?”
”I suppose you think we are too clumsy to be anything else,” Tavernake replied. ”This is my 'bus coming. Good-night!”
Pritchard's hand, however, tightened upon his companion's arm.
”Look here, young man,” he said, ”don't you be foolish. I'm a valuable acquaintance for you, if you only realized it. Come along across the street with me. My club is on the Terrace, just below. Stroll along there with me and I'll tell you something about the professor, if you like.”
”Thank you,” Tavernake answered, ”I don't think I care about hearing gossip. Besides, I think I know all there is to be known about him.”
”Did you give Miss Beatrice my message?” Pritchard asked suddenly.
”If I did,” Tavernake replied, ”I have no answer for you.”
”Will you tell her this,” Pritchard began,--
”No, I will tell her nothing!” Tavernake interrupted. ”You can look after your own affairs. I have no interest in them and I don't want to have. Good-night!”
Pritchard laughed again but he did not relax his grasp upon the other's arm.
”Now, Mr. Tavernake,” he said, ”it won't do for you to quarrel with me.
I shouldn't be surprised if you discovered that I am one of the most useful acquaintances you ever met in your life. You needn't come into the club unless you like, but walk as far as there with me. When we get on to the Terrace, with closed houses on one side and a palisade upon the other, I am going to say something to you.”
”Very well,” Tavernake decided, reluctantly. ”I don't know what there is you can have to tell me, but I'll come as far as there, at any rate.”
They crossed the Strand and turned into Adam Street. As they neared the further corner, Pritchard stepped from the pavement into the middle of the street, and looked searchingly around.
”Say, you'll excuse my being a little careful,” he remarked. ”This is rather a lonely part for the middle of London, and I have been followed for the last two days by people whose company I am not over keen about.”
”Followed? What for?” Tavernake demanded.
”Oh, the usual thing!” answered the detective, with a shrug of the shoulders. ”That company of crooks I showed you last night don't fancy having me around. They've a good many grudges up against Sam Pritchard.
I am not quite so safe over here as I should be in New York. Most of them are off to Paris tomorrow, thank Heavens!”
”And you?” Tavernake asked. ”Are you going, too?”
Pritchard shook his head.
”If only those fools would believe it, I'm not over here on their business at all. I came over on a special commission this time, as you know. I have a word of warning for you, Mr. Tavernake. I guess you won't like to hear it, but you've got to.”