I fancy that every man who looks twice at
me in the street is a spy--"
At these words I thought my legs would have given way under me.
Nothing but strength of mind kept me at my peep-hole--nothing
else, I give you my word of honor.
"Stuff and nonsense!" cries Mr. Jay, with all the effrontery of a
veteran in crime. "We have kept the secret up to this time, and
we will manage cleverly to the end. Have a drop of
brandy-and-water, and you will feel as certain about it as I do."
Jack steadily refused the brandy-and-water, and steadily
persisted in taking his leave.
"I must try if I can't walk it off," he said. "Remember to-morrow
morning--eleven o'clock, Avenue Road, side of the Regent's Park."
With those words he went out. His hardened relative laughed
desperately and resumed the dirty clay pipe.
I sat down on the side of my bed, actually quivering with
excitement.
It is clear to me that no attempt has yet been made to change the
stolen bank-notes, and I may add that Sergeant Bulmer was of that
opinion also when he left the case in my hands. What is the
natural conclusion to draw from the conversation which I have
just set down? Evidently that the confederates meet to-morrow to
take their respective shares in the stolen money, and to decide
on the safest means of getting the notes changed the day after.
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