Ostby obeyed and they walked, with Ostby again between them, toward the stone house. The nobleman remained in the carriage.
One of the servants opened the unlocked door of the stone house and the other shoved Ostby through the doorway. They closed the door behind him, and he stood in a dark room, blinded by the sudden change from bright sunlight. The first sight that met his eyes, as they adjusted to the dim light lurking under the drawn shades, was the familiar one of a fat man slumped in an easy chair!
"Welcome to my new abode," Siggen said.
The events of the past hour snapped into place in Ostby's mind in an instant and he evidenced no surprise as he smiled back at Siggen. He even debated with himself whether or not Siggen had done him a service by taking him from his foolproof hiding place so soon. But then he had another in mind that should serve as well if he had not underestimated his influence with the Duchess, Rinda.
"You pay your debts, I see," he said.
"Siggen's word is his bond," the fat man said. "I told you I would get you in and get you out. Our bargain is now complete."
"Your man put on a good act as a nobleman," Ostby said. "He fooled me as completely as he did the guards."
"It was no act," Siggen replied. "He is a nobleman. But he owed Siggen a favor."
"Good work," Ostby said. "Accept my thanks. Incidentally, I suppose you know by now that your man, Groves, was a secret agent?"
"No, I did not," Siggen answered. "I wondered why he never returned. I presume you took care of him?"