rn, the organic part of a dangerous plot.
Heyst had gone to combine some fresh move. But then Ricardo felt sure
that the girl was with him--the girl full of pluck, full of sense, full
of understanding; an ally of his own kind!

He went indoors briskly. Mr. Jones had resumed his cross-legged pose at
the head of the bed, with his back against the wall.

"Anything new?"

"No, sir."

Ricardo walked about the room as if he had no care in the world. He
hummed snatches of song. Mr. Jones raised his waspish eyebrows, at the
sound. The secretary got down on his knees before an old leather trunk,
and, rummaging in there, brought out a small looking-glass. He fell to
examining his physiognomy in it with silent absorption.

"I think I'll shave," he decided, getting up.

He gave a sidelong glance to the governor, and repeated it several times
during the operation, which did not take long, and even afterwards, when
after putting away the implements, he resumed his walking, humming more
snatches of unknown songs. Mr. Jones preserved a complete immobility,
his thin lips compressed, his eyes veiled. His face was like a carving.

"So you would like to try your hand at cards with that skunk, sir?" said
Ricardo, stopping suddenly and rubbing his hands.

Mr Jones gave no sign of having heard anything.

"Well, why not? Why shouldn't he have the experience? You remember in
that Mexican town--what's its name?--the robber fellow they caught in
the mountains and condemned to be shot? He played cards half the night
with the jailer and the sheriff. Well, this fellow is condemned, too.
He must give you your game. Hang it all, a gentleman ought to have some
little relaxation! And you have been uncommonly patient, sir."

"You are uncommonly volatile all of a sudden," Mr. Jones remarked in a
bored voice. "What's come to you?"

The secretary hummed for a while, and then said:

"I'll try to get him over here for you tonight, after dinner. If I ain't
here myself, don't you worry, sir. I shall be doing a bit of nosing
around--see?"

"I see," sneered Mr. Jones languidly. "But what do you expect to see in
the dark?"

Ricardo made no answer, and after another turn or two slipped out of the
room. He no longer felt comfortable alone with the governor.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Meantime Heyst and Lena, walking rather fast, approached Wang's hut.
Asking the girl to wait, Heyst ascended the little ladder of bamboos
giving access to the door. It