ght kill a
man."

Mannering swung the weapon lightly in his hand. It cut the air with a
soft, sickly swish.

"What were you doing following me, on tiptoe, with this in your hand?" he
asked, sternly.

"Well," the man answered, as though forced to confess an unpleasant
truth, "I am very much afraid that I was going to hit you with it."

Mannering looked up and down the street for a policeman.

"Indeed!" he said. "And may I ask why you changed your mind?"

"It was an inspiration," the man answered, easily. "To tell you the
truth, the clumsiness of the whole thing grated very much upon me.
Personally, I ran no risk, don't think it was that. My escape was very
carefully provided for. But one thinks quickly in moments of excitement,
and it seemed to me as I took those last few steps that I saw a better
way."

"A better way," Mannering repeated, puzzled. "I am afraid I don't quite
understand you. I presume that you meant to rob me. You would not have
found it worth while, by the bye."

The man laughed softly.

"My dear sir," he exclaimed, "do I look like a robber? Rumour says that
you are a poor man. I should think it very likely that, although I am not
a rich one, I am at least as well off as you."

Mannering looked out no more for the policeman. He was getting
interested.

"Come," he said, "I should like to understand what all this means. You
were going to tap me on the head with this particularly unpleasant
weapon, and your motive was not robbery. I am not aware of ever having
seen you before. I am not aware of having an enemy in the world. Explain
yourself."

"I should be charmed," the man answered. "I do not wish to keep you
standing here, however. Will you allow me to walk with you towards your
home? You can retain possession of that little trifle, if you like," he
added, pointing to the weapon which was still in Mannering's hand. "I can
assure you that I have nothing else of the sort in my possession. You can
feel my pockets, if you like."

"I will take your word!" Mannering said. "I was on my way to Portland
Crescent, but I fancy that I have taken a wrong turn."

"We can get there this way," the man answered. "Excuse me one second."

He paused, and lit a cigarette. Then with his hands behind his back he
stepped out by Mannering's side.

"What was that you said just now?" he remarked, "that you were not aware
of having an enemy in the world? My dear sir, there was never a more
extraordinary delusio