tence in a way he used to have, 'George Harris cannot leave England
to-morrow. I find I shall want him where he is. And I want Bunner where
_he_ is. But somebody has got to go by that boat and take certain papers
to Paris. Or else my plan is going to fall to pieces. Will you go?' I
said, 'Certainly. I am here to obey orders.'

"He bit his cigar, and said: 'That's all right: but these are not just
ordinary orders;--not the kind of thing one can ask of a man in the
ordinary way of his duty to an employer. The point is this. The deal I
am busy with is one in which neither myself nor any one known to be
connected with me must appear as yet. That is vital. But these people I
am up against know your face as well as they know mine. If my secretary
is known in certain quarters to have crossed to Paris at this time and
to have interviewed certain people--and that would be known as soon as
it happened--then the game is up.' He threw away his cigar-end and
looked at me questioningly.

"I didn't like it much, but I liked failing Manderson at a pinch still
less. I spoke lightly. I said I supposed I should have to conceal my
identity, and I would do my best. I told him I used to be pretty good at
make-up.

"He nodded in approval. He said: 'That's good. I judged you would not
let me down.' Then he gave me my instructions--'You take the car right
now and start for Southampton--there's no train that will fit in. You'll
be driving all night. Barring accidents, you ought to get there by six
in the morning. But whenever you arrive, drive straight to the Grand
Hotel and ask for George Harris. If he's there, tell him you are to go
over instead of him, and ask him to telephone me here. It is very
important he should know that at the earliest moment possible. But if he
isn't there, that means he has got the instructions I wired to-day, and
hasn't gone to Southampton. In that case you don't want to trouble about
him any more, but just wait for the boat. You can leave the car at a
garage under a fancy name--mine must not be given. See about changing
your appearance--I don't care how, so you do it well. Travel by the boat
as George Harris. Let on to be anything you like, but be careful, and
don't talk much to anybody. When you arrive, take a room at the Hotel
St. Petersburg. You will receive a note or message there, addressed to
George Harris, telling you where to take the wallet I shall give you.
The wallet is locked, and you want to take good