Grand Hotel, Biarritz: for I'm running short. The hunt
is up, and he's breaking for South."
"J. F."

NIGHT THE ELEVENTH.

SCIENCE OF THE CHASE.

I'm an imperfect Christian: but I read Jack's long letter three times
over, and at each reading I liked it the less. Before posting an
answer I handed the thing to Jimmy; who spent a morning over it,
helping himself--a sure sign of a troubled spirit--to tobacco
indifferently from his own jar and mine. When nothing troubled him--
that is to say, as a rule--he invariably used mine. I left him
ruminating; went out, did some business, and met him again at our
usual luncheon-table at the Bath Club.

"I believe," said Jimmy reflectively at luncheon, "that my way with
Farrell was the better, after all. . . . You'll admit that it did the
trick, and without causing any offence to anybody. Well, if you ask
me how to deal with the Professor, I'll be equally practical.
Starve him off."

"No good," said I. "If I cut off supply, he'll only come back,
demand his money and be off on the trail again. Indeed, he may turn
up in these rooms to-morrow: for it's ten to one, on my reckoning,
that Farrell will pretty soon break back for home."

"All the easier, then," said Jimmy. "Save you the trouble of writing
a letter. When he comes for his money, tell him you're freezing on
to it."

"But, man alive! it's Jack's money. You wouldn't have me thieve,
would you? . . . As for the letter, I've written it; in fact you may
say that I've written two, or, rather, assisted at their composition.
Here is one of them, in copy. It explains the other, which is a
half-sheet of instructions now in my lawyer's possession. I shall
have to write a third presently, explaining to Jack--"

"I don't like letter-writing," interrupted Jimmy, "and I shun
solicitors. Which is anticipatory vengeance: as soon as I'm called,
and in practice, they'll be active enough in shunning me. Otty, you
need a nurse. What the devil do you want with consulting solicitors,
when you can have my advice, legal or illegal, gratis?"

"Listen to this," said I:--

"Thistleton Chambers,"
"29a Essex Street, Strand, W.C.,"
"May 12th, 1907."

"Dear Sir,--Our client, Sir Roderick Otway, Bart., has to-day
transferred to our account the sum of six tho