Having completed my purchase, I went to the Club, where Oakes was awaiting me. We lunched together, and during the conversation he told me to express my baggage to the Mansion that afternoon, and to meet him at the Central Station at eight o'clock P.M.
"And be cautious in your movements," he said. "Here is your ticket. Wear serviceable clothes and a heavy dark overcoat, such as you had on last night, with a black Fedora hat. Don't notice me, but enter the same car as I do on the train. I will contrive to be with you before we arrive at our destination."
"Why all this?" I asked.
"Well, I wish to be able to identify you easily in a crowd. If I know how you are dressed, it might be valuable in several other ways also. We may have to change our plans, in which event it will be easier for me if I know how you look."
"I do not exactly understand," said I, "but I presume you do."
"Precisely. You may learn in time."
As we emerged from the Club a newsboy came up to Oakes, from whom he bought a paper, and as he did so, the boy said:
"Martin says you are followed, sir."
Oakes turned to me: "Meet me as I said; and do as I do afterwards in everything. I shall be forced to change my plans."
The boy had gone after another customer, and Oakes continued: "Martin is my aide; he has posted me. Good-by! See you later. Explain some other time."