h them unheard or unseen. Dunn laid
his hand affectionately on Walter's shoulder as they settled themselves.

"Old chap," he said. "It was good of you to come here. You've run some
risk. It's none too safe near Bittermeads. But I'm glad to see you,
Walter. It's a tremendous relief after all this strain of doubt and
watching and suspicion to be with some one I know--some one I can
trust--some one like you, Walter."

In the darkness, Walter put out his hand and took Dunn's and held it for
a moment.

"I have been anxious about you," he said. Dunn returned the pressure
warmly.

"I know," he said. "Jove, old chap, it's good to see you again. You
don't know what it's like after all this long time, feeling that every
step was a step in the dark, to be at last with a real friend again."

"I think I can guess," Walter said softly.

Dunn shook his head.

"No one could," he said. "I tell you I've doubted, distrusted, suspected
till I wasn't sure of my own shadow. Well, that's all over now. Tomorrow
we can act."

"Tell me what I'm to do," Walter Dunsmore said.

"There's a whole lot I don't understand yet," Dunn continued slowly.
"I suppose it was that that was making me feel so jolly down before
you came. I don't feel sure somehow--not sure. Deede Dawson is such a
cunning brute. He seems to have laid his whole hand bare, and yet there
may be cards up his sleeve still. Besides, his plan he told me about
seems so bald. And I don't understand why he should think he is so
sure of what I--I mean, of what Rupert--it's a bit confusing to have a
double identity--is going to do. He says he is sure Rupert Dunsmore
is to be at the Brook Bourne Spring tomorrow at four. He says his
information is certain, and that he has full knowledge of what Rupert
Dunsmore is going to do, which is more than I have. But what can it be
that's making him so sure?"

"That's probably simple enough," said Walter. "You said you suspected
there was a leakage from Burns & Swift's office, and you told Burns to
make misleading statements about your movements occasionally when he was
dictating his letters. Well, I expect this is one."

"That may be; only Deede Dawson seems so very sure," answered Dunn. "But
what's specially important is his saying that his employer, whoever it
is, who is behind all this, will be there too."

"A meeting? Is that it?" exclaimed Walter.

"No, that's not the idea," answered Dunn. "You see, the idea is that
Rupert Dunsmore w