Part 33 (2/2)

'We want to detach hiths rather than abandon his position here His attempt on you is the measure of his interest in it Now, is to-day to be wasted?' We were passing through the public gardens, and I dropped on to a seat for adead leaves under ravel with his toe

'We have got two valuable clues,' I went on; 'that rendezvous on the 25th is one, and the name Esens is the other We may consider them to eternity; I vote we act on theht here; and if we're caught--'

'Your plan--ugh!--it's as risky aswith a jerk, for a spasm of cramp took me 'We must separate,'

I added, as alked on 'We want, at one stroke, to prove to theo back to London'

'To London!' said Davies We were passing under an arc laht have said Kaht to be at this ot And et on withoutyour ti inquiries about Dollmann's past I double back as somebody else, and follow up the clues'

'You'll have to be quick,' said Davies, abstractedly

'I can just do it in ti inquiries”,' he continued, looking straight before hi other people on his track?'

'He's fair ga; for there were moments when I chafed under this scrupulous fidelity to our self-denying ordinance

'He's our game, or nobody's,' said Davies, sharply

'Oh, I'll keep the secret,' I rejoined

'Let's stick together,' he broke out 'I shall make a muck of it without you And how are we to communicate--meet?'

'Somehow--that can wait I know it's a leap in the dark, but there's safety in darkness'

'Carruthers! what are we talking about? If they have the ghost of a notion where we have been to-day, you give us away by packing off to London They'll think we know their secret and are clearing out to make use of it _That_ means arrest, if you like!'

'Pessiood faith in my pocket--official letters of recall, received to-day? It's one deception the less, you see; for those letters _may_ have been opened; skilfully done it's impossible to detect When in doubt, tell the truth!'

'It's a ru business,' said Davies, thoughtfully

We had been tralare of electricity, I with my leaden shuffle, he with the purposeful forward stoop and swinging arait ashore

'Well, what's it to be?' I said 'Here's the Schwannallee'

'I don't like it,' said he; 'but I trust your judge over a few last points where prior agreeate of the villa: 'Don't co that will prevent you fro here at least a week hence with the yacht still afloat' And my final word, as aited at the door for the bell to be answered, was: 'Don't hten the shi+p'

'Lighten?' whispered Davies; 'oh, I hope I shan't bosh it'

'I hope I shan't get cramp,' I muttered between my teeth