"
"That is to say, you have to-night taken out insurance against punishment
if this other business fails."
"If it fail, others may suffer, but if necessary the Lone Wolf himself
will arrange my escape from England."
"To serve so wise a man is an honour my unworthiness can never hope to
merit."
"As to that, Shaik Tsin," Victor said without a smile, "our minds are one.
Go now. Good-night."
XVII
THE RAISED CHEQUE
While the Princess Sofia, Sybil Waring, and Prince Victor motored down from
London in the lilac dusk of that dim September day, and the maid Chou Nu
accompanied them, riding in front beside a newly engaged Chinese chauffeur,
the man Nogam made the journey to Frampton Court by train, and alone.
Alone, at least, in the finer shading of that adjective; aside from the
usual assortment of self-contained fellow-travellers in the third-class
carriage, he had no company other than his thoughts; a gray and meagre
crew, if that pathetic face of middle-age furnished trustworthy reflection
of his mind.... So absolute was the submergence of that ardent adventurer
who, overnight, had lain awake for hours, a dictograph receiver glued to
his ear, eavesdropping upon the traffic of those malevolent intelligences
assembled in Prince Victor's study, and alternately chuckling and cursing
beneath his breath, aflame with indignation and chilled by inklings of
atrocities unspeakable abrew!
If he surmised that he travelled alone in appearance only, it was with no
evident concern or astonishment.
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