ce. I am
bound to play for my own hand, though, in this matter, and if I
get any benefit at all out of my journey, it will be after some
regrettable accident has happened to you."

"Say, ring the bell for drinks and chuck this!" Dorward exclaimed.
"I've had about enough of it. I am not denying anything you say,
but if these fellows really are on board, they'll think twice
before they meddle with me."

"On the contrary," Bellamy assured him, "they will not take the
trouble to think at all. Their minds are perfectly made up as to
what they are going to do. However, that's finished. I have
nothing more to say."

Dorward gazed for a minute or two fixedly out of the window.

"Look here, Bellamy," he said, turning abruptly round, "supposing
I change my mind, supposing I open this precious document and let
you read it over with me?"

Bellamy rose hastily to his feet.

"You must not think of it!" he exclaimed. "You would simply
write my death-warrant. Don't allude to that matter again. I
have risked enough in coming in here to sit with you."

"Then, for Heaven's sake, don't stop any longer!" Dorward said
irritably. "You get on my nerves with all this foolish talk. In
an hour's time I am going to bolt my door and go to sleep. We'll
breakfast together in the morning, if you like."

Bellamy said nothing. The steward had brought them the whiskies
and sodas which Dorward had ordered. Bellamy raised his tumbler
to his lips and set it down again.

"Forgive me," he said, "I do not think that I am thirsty."

Dorward drank his off at a gulp. Almost immediately he closed his
eyes. Bellamy, with a little shrug of the shoulders, left him
alone. As he passed along to his own coupe, he met Louise in the
corridor.

"You have seen Von Behrling?" he whispered. She nodded.

"He is in that coupe, number 7, alone," she said. "I invited him
to come in with me but he seemed embarrassed. It is his companions
who watch him all the time. He has promised to talk with me later."

In the middle of the night, Louise opened her eyes to find Bellamy
bending over her.

"Louise," he whispered, "it is Von Behrling who will take possession
of the packet. They have been discussing whether it will not be
safer to go on to London instead of doubling back. See Von Behrling
again. Do all you can to persuade him to come to London,--all you
can, Louise, remember."

"So!" she whispered. "I shall put on my dressing-gown and si