e a fox. As I told you in my letter, the police are after
me, and if I cannot get out of the country I'm done."

"What made you come to Ireland, then? It would have been just as easy
to have shipped abroad."

"Because I wanted to see you, for I couldn't trust you to send me a
farthing."

"How was it? You must have managed very badly."

"The numbers of those bonds were known, though you were so sure they
could not be, and they are advertised, and traced to having passed
through my hands. That is certain to bring it out that I passed the
forged cheque, too. Bad management yourself! However, there's no good
in blaming one another. Have you got the two hundred?"

"It is a large sum; but still, if it will get you out of your scrape, I
will make the sacrifice. Only--"

"Get _me_ out of my scrape! If I am taken, my fine fellow, you will be
taken too."

"Why, what good would it do you to pull me in with you?" asked Daireh.

"You know precious well. If all the facts came out I should get about
two years, and you fourteen at least. You actually took the bonds; you
forged the cheque. I was only your tool, employed to cash the things."

"And am I to have you sucking me like a leech all my life?" cried Daireh
in a shrill voice, stamping his foot.

"That is as it may be; you must take your chance of that. Perhaps you
had sooner I gave myself up and told the whole story. I am not sure
that it would not be the best thing for me to do."

"That is nonsense. Here is the money. You know how to get to South
America, you said."

"Ay, I know. If the police have not tracked me here; and I think I have
given them the slip," said Stebbings, counting the notes before putting
them away. "Now the sooner you are off the better."

"It is a chilly night," said Daireh, producing his flask, "and I am
going to have a sup of whisky. Will you have a drop?"

"Don't mind if I do," replied Stebbings.

And the Egyptian filled the metal cup and handed it to him.

"Here's better luck," he said, taking a mouthful.

Then suddenly he spat it out again.

"No, hang me, if I will trust you!" he cried. "And there is a queer
taste about it, too!"

"What nonsense!" said Daireh, forcing a laugh. "It is good whisky, very
good; I had a glass just before I left. Well, good-night, for all your
bad suspicions."

And Daireh walked quickly away in the direction of the road which led to
the station. When he was well hidden from the