the best of luck! As you
say, then, we mustn't call in the police, and as we can't leave the
thing, we must go on with our own inquiry. I would suggest that if we
find out their scheme is something illegal, we see Mr. Coburn and give
him the chance to get out before we lodge our information."

"I suppose that is the only way," Merriman said doubtfully. After a
pause Hilliard went on:

"I'm not very clear, but I'm inclined to think we can do no more good
here at present. I think we should try the other end."

"The other end?"

"Yes, the unloading of the ship and the disposal of the pit-props. You
see, the first thing we're up against is that these people are anything
but fools, and the second is that they already suspect us and will keep
a watch on us. A hundred to one they make inquiries and see that we
really do go through the Canal du Midi to the Riviera. We can't hang
about Bordeaux without their knowing it."

"That's true."

"Of course," Hilliard went on, "we can see now we made a frightful mess
of things by calling on the Coburns or letting Mr. Coburn know we were
about, but at the time it seemed the wisest thing."

"It was the only thing," Merriman asserted positively. "We didn't know
then there was anything wrong, and besides, how could we have hidden the
launch?"

"Well, it's done anyway. We needn't worry about it now, except that it
seems to me that for the same reason the launch has served its purpose.
We can't use it here because the people at the clearing know it, and we
can't use it at the unloading end, for all on board the Girondin would
recognize it directly they saw it."

Merriman nodded without speaking and Hilliard continued:

"I think, therefore, that we should leave the launch at Bordeaux tonight
and go back to London overland. I shall write Mr. Coburn saying we have
found Poste Restante letters recalling us. You can enclose a note to
Miss Coburn if you like. When we get to town we can apply at the Inquiry
Office at Lloyd's to find out where the Girondin calls in England. Then
let us go there and make inquiries. The launch can be worked back to
England some other time. How does that strike you?"

"Seems all right. But I should leave the launch at Bordeaux. We may have
to come back, and it would furnish us with an excuse for our presence if
we were seen."

Hilliard gave a little sigh of relief. Merriman's reply took a weight
off his mind, not because of the value of the SUGGESTION--tho