n hour or two later."

"You don't want a passage, sir? You may be the friend he's expecting."

"No, I don't want a passage--not at present certainly." Then I ventured
on a bold stroke. "Look here," I said, leaning across towards him, and
assuming a confidential tone: "I am a private detective"--which was
perfectly true in essence--"and I'm dogging the Professor, who, for all
his eminence, is gravely suspected of a great crime. If you will help
me, I will make it worth your while. Let us understand one another. I
offer you a five-pound note to say nothing of all this to him."

The sallow clerk's fishy eye glistened. "You can depend upon me," he
answered, with an acquiescent nod. I judged that he did not often get
the chance of earning some eighty rupees so easily.

I scribbled a hasty note and sent it round to Hilda: "Pack your boxes
at once, and hold yourself in readiness to embark on the Vindhya at six
o'clock precisely." Then I put my own things straight; and waited at
the club till a quarter to six. At that time I strolled on unconcernedly
into the office. A cab outside held Hilda and our luggage. I had
arranged it all meanwhile by letter.

"Professor Sebastian been here again?" I asked.

"Yes, sir; he's been here; and he looked over the list again; and he's
taken his passage. But he muttered something about eavesdroppers, and
said that if he wasn't satisfied when he got on board, he would return
at once and ask for a cabin in exchange by the next steamer."

"That will do," I answered, slipping the promised five-pound note into
the clerk's open palm, which closed over it convulsively. "Talked about
eavesdroppers, did he? Then he knows he's been shadowed. It may console
you to learn that you are instrumental in furthering the aims of justice
and unmasking a cruel and wicked conspiracy. Now, the next thing
is this: I want two berths at once by this very steamer--one for
myself--name of Cumberledge; one for a lady--name of Wade; and look
sharp about it."

The sandy-haired man did look sharp; and within three minutes we were
driving off with our tickets to Prince's Dock landing-stage.

We slipped on board unobtrusively, and instantly took refuge in our
respective staterooms till the steamer was well under way, and fairly
out of sight of Kolaba Island. Only after all chance of Sebastian's
avoiding us was gone for ever did we venture up on deck, on purpose to
confront him.

It was one of those delicious balmy ev