‘Never mind me, I like it. And, as for him, they will be very loth to destroy their winning card.’
‘You’ll be cautious?’
‘Naturally, but, as this place and the stations are sure to be watched, as the trains are slow, local, and inconvenient, and as, thanks to the economy of the marquis, you have no horses, it will be horribly difficult for me to leave the house and get to London and to work without their spotting me. It is absolutely essential to my scheme that I should not be known to be in town, and that I should be supposed to be here. I’ll think it out. In the meantime we must
do what we can to throw dust in the eyes of the enemy. Wire an identical advertisement to all the London papers; I’ll write it.’
Merton went to a table on which lay some writing materials, and wrote:—
‘BURLINGTON ARCADE. SILVER-TOPPED EBONY STICK. Any offer made by the other party will be doubled on receipt of that consignment uninjured. Will meet the lady. Traps shall be kept here till after the date you mention. CHURCH BROOK.’
‘Now,’ said Merton, ‘he will see that Church Brook is Kirkburn, and that you will be liberal. And he will understand that the detectives are not to return to London. You did not show them the letters?’
‘Of course not till you saw them, and I won’t.’
‘And, if nothing can be done before the eleventh, why you must promenade in the Burlington Arcade.’
‘You see one weak point in your offers, don’t you?’