"Come round by the lake," said Geoffrey in a low voice, when the groom had joined him. "I have something to tell you."
He waited till they were certainly out of ear-shot.
"Now, Jim," he said, "it's just this. We believe that an attempt will be made to-night to murder Lord Vail. I want your help, though I can't yet tell you in what way you can help, because I don't know. But will you do all you can or are told to do?"
"Gawd bless my soul!" said Jim. Then, with a return to his ordinary impassivity, "yes, sir, I'll do anything you tell me to help."
"Come on, then. You can trust me that you shall run no unreasonable risks."
"I'm not thinking you'll let them murder me instead, sir," said Jim. "And may I ask who is going to do the murdering?"
Geoffrey hesitated a moment, but on reflection there seemed to him to be no reason for concealing anything.
"We believe—Dr. Armytage and I, that is—that Sanders, Mr. Francis's man, will attempt it."
Jim whistled under his breath.