ail,' the learned Professor said, 'I shan't return to Gloria.'

'No, I dare say not. The English police will take good care of that,
especially if Ericson should marry Sir Rupert's daughter. No--and do you
fancy that even if the police failed to find us, those that sent us out
would fail to find us? Do you think they would let us carry their
secrets about with us? Why, what a fool you are!'

'I suppose I am,' the distressed student of folk-lore murmured.

'Many days would not pass before there was a dagger in both our hearts.
It is of no use trying to avoid the danger now. Rally all your
nerves--get together all your courage and coolness. This thing must be
done to-night--we have no time to lose--and according to what you tell
me we are being already found out. Mind--if you show the least flinching
when I give you the word--I'll put a dagger into you! Hush--put your
light out--I'll come at the right time.'

'You are too impetuous,' the Professor murmured with a sort of groan,
and he took off his moony spectacles in a petulant way and put them on
the table. Behold what a change! Instead of a moon-like beneficence of
the spectacles, there was seen the quick shifting light of two dark,
fierce, cruel, treacherous, cowardly eyes. They were eyes that might
have looked out of the head of some ferocious and withal cowardly wild
beast in a jungle or a forest. One who saw the change would have
understood the axiom of a famous detective, 'No disguise for some men
half so effective as a pair of large spectacles.'

'Put on your spectacles,' Copping said sternly.

'What's the matter? We are here among friends.'

'But it is so stupid a trick! How can you tell the moment when someone
may come in?'

'Very good,' the Professor said, veiling his identity once again in the
moony spectacles; 'only I can tell you I am getting sick of the dulness
of all this, and I shall be glad of anything for a change.'

'You'll have a change soon enough,' Copping said contemptuously. 'I hope
you will be equal to it when it comes.'

'How long shall I have to wait?'

'Until I come for you.'

'With the dagger, perhaps?' Professor Flick said sarcastically.

'With the dagger certainly, but I hope with no occasion for using it.'

'I hope so too; you might cut your fingers with it.'

'Are you threatening me?' Copping asked fiercely, standing up. He spoke,
however, in the lowest of tones.

'I almost think I am. You see you have been threatening _