"These people are not fools.
They would have a perfect answer to any charge you might bring."
"You don't mean that you intend to lie here and be done to death?" I
protested.
"Death for me is a certain thing," he answered. "I have been a doomed man
for months. There was never a chance for me after I entered the portals
of this hotel. I knew that; but I backed my luck. I thought that I might
have had time to finish my work--to lay the match to the gunpowder."
"Listen," I said, "there is a lady--a young lady staying here, a Miss Van
Hoyt."
"Well?"
"It was her suggestion that I should take you away with me!"
His eyes seemed to dilate as he stared at me.
"Say that again," he murmured.
I repeated my words. He raised himself a little in the bed.
"What do you know of her?" he asked.
"Not much," I answered. "She came to Lord's cricket ground. My cousin was
with her. We have spoken about you."
"You know--"
"I know that she is or appears to be one of your--what shall I
say--enemies."
"She is willing," he repeated, "for me to go away with you! Ah!"
A sudden understanding came into his face.
Pages:
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85