what's more
important, keep a still tongue."

I glanced from one to the other in surprise. What did he mean?

Both saw that I was puzzled, whereupon he hastened to allay my surprise
by explaining.

"My friend and I run a car each. He has a six-cylinder 'sixty' here, and
we want you to look after both. No cleaning. You are engineer, and will
drive occasionally. Come and see the other car." And taking me to the
rear of the premises, they showed me, standing in a newly built shed,
one of the latest pattern six-cylinder "Napiers" fitted with every
modern improvement. It was painted cream, and upon the panels an
imposing crest. A big searchlight was set over the splash-board. It was
fitted with the latest lubrication, and seemed almost new. To me, motor
enthusiast as I am, it was a delight to have such a splendid car under
my control, and my heart leapt within me.

"My friend, Mr. Brackenbury, will be liberal in the matter of wages,"
remarked Shand, "provided that you simply do as you are bid and ask no
questions. Blind obedience is all that we require. Our private business
does not concern you in the least--you understand that?"

"Perfectly," I said.

"Then if you make a promise of faithful and silent service, we shall pay
you three pounds ten a week instead of the two ten which we arranged
this morning," said Brackenbury.

I thanked them both, and returning to the house Shand produced some
whisky and a syphon, gave me a drink and a cigar, and told me that if I
wished to stroll about for an hour I was at liberty to do so.

The afternoon was a warm one in July, therefore I passed out into a
field, and beneath the shade of a tree threw myself down to smoke and
reflect. For nearly four months, though Ray and I had been ever
watchful, we had discovered but little. We had had our suspicions
aroused, however, and I had resolved to follow them up. Both men seemed
good fellows enough, yet the glances they had exchanged were meaning,
and thereby increased my suspicions.

When, an hour later, I re-entered the house and knocked at the door of
the room, I found the pair with a map spread out on the table. They had
evidently been in earnest consultation.

"Fortunately for you you are not married, Nye," exclaimed the Honourable
Robert, whom I strongly suspected to be of German birth, though he spoke
English perfectly and had appeared to have many friends among the
habitues of the "Savoy." Nye was the name I had given. "You'l