ou fooled me fine over that
business, and it was only by the mercy of God you didn't win out. You
see, there was just the one of us who was liable to recognize you
whatever way you twisted your face, and that was Dick Hannay. I give
you good marks for Clarence ... For the rest, I had you beaten flat.'

He looked steadily at him. 'You don't believe it. Well, I'll give you
proof. I've been watching your Underground Railway for quite a time.
I've had my men on the job, and I reckon most of the lines are now
closed for repairs. All but the trunk line into France. That I'm
keeping open, for soon there's going to be some traffic on it.'

At that I saw Ivery's eyelids quiver. For all his self-command he was
breaking.

'I admit we cut it mighty fine, along of your fooling me about
Clarence. But you struck a bad snag in General Hannay, Graf. Your
heart-to-heart talk with him was poor business. You reckoned you had
him safe, but that was too big a risk to take with a man like Dick,
unless you saw him cold before you left him ... He got away from this
place, and early this morning I knew all he knew. After that it was
easy. I got the telegram you had sent this morning in the name of
Clarence Donne and it made me laugh. Before midday I had this whole
outfit under my hand. Your servants have gone by the Underground
Railway--to France. Ehrlich--well, I'm sorry about Ehrlich.'

I knew now the name of the Portuguese Jew.

'He wasn't a bad sort of man,' Blenkiron said regretfully, 'and he was
plumb honest. I couldn't get him to listen to reason, and he would play
with firearms. So I had to shoot.'

'Dead?' asked Ivery sharply.

'Ye-es. I don't miss, and it was him or me. He's under the ice
now--where you wanted to send Dick Hannay. He wasn't your kind, Graf,
and I guess he has some chance of getting into Heaven. If I weren't a
hard-shell Presbyterian I'd say a prayer for his soul.'

I looked only at Ivery. His face had gone very pale, and his eyes were
wandering. I am certain his brain was working at lightning speed, but
he was a rat in a steel trap and the springs held him. If ever I saw a
man going through hell it was now. His pasteboard castle had crumbled
about his ears and he was giddy with the fall of it. The man was made
of pride, and every proud nerve of him was caught on the raw.

'So much for ordinary business,' said Blenkiron. 'There's the matter of
a certain lady. You haven't behaved over-nice about her, Graf, but