"What price Toutou's vermin now? I jolly well bet they esteem us artful dodgers."
Nikka smiled.
"Don't be too sure," he cautioned. "Eluding detection is their life-work. We are only amateurs."
"Rats," grunted Hugh. "Sherlock Holmes, himself, couldn't have traced us, eh, Watty?"
"I'm sure I don't see 'ow any one could 'ave followed us, your ludship," replied the valet wearily. "I don't quite know where I am myself, sir."
"I fear you haven't any submerged criminal instincts, Watty," chaffed Hugh. "Now I find myself gettin' a bit of a thrill out of this hide-and-seek stuff. By Jove, I almost wish we had the police after us, too. That would be a treat!"
"A fair treat!" groaned Watkins. "I mean no disrespect, your ludship, and it may be there's no call for the remark, but glad I'll be when this treasure is safe in the bank and we can go 'ome to Chesby."
We all laughed.
"How about dinner?" I asked. "Shall we eat by shifts or—"
"What's the use?" returned Hugh. "We haven't anything that will do 'em any good, and besides, they're peekin' into all the compartments of the Orient Express at this moment."