"Oh, I am sure of that Steve. All the same he wants to look after his own skin. When Frisco is tried, he will tell all he knows about the Mexican's doings out of revenge. Santiago can't face an inquiry as you know. His assault on you, is enough to get him into serious trouble. No, my friend; Don Manuel has done his mischief and cleared out. By this time he is on his way to the new world. Beast!" muttered Herrick between his teeth, "I should like to make it hot for him!"
On arriving in Town Herrick sent Stephen with the luggage to the hotel in Jermyn Street and himself drove off to West Kensington. He learned from the porter that Joyce was in, and ran upstairs. In a few minutes he was seated in the little man's drawing-room listening to his reproaches.
"I did not think you would sell me like this Herrick!" said Robin wringing his hands in his usual womanish way, "whatever I may have done to you, you should have kept faith with me. You always pretended to be so superior."
"Ah! Did I?" said Herrick calmly but a trifle bewildered at these accusations. "And now perhaps you will tell me what I have done."
"You know well enough. You put that cipher in the paper and betrayed my unfortunate father. I did not think it of you."
"He was arrested at Hyde Park Corner?"
"Yes. At three o'clock yesterday. Of course he thought that I put the cipher in and came to meet me. But why do I tell you all this. You are perfectly well aware of the success of your treachery."
Herrick shrugged his shoulders. At the present moment he did not think it necessary to correct the man. "How about your friend Santiago?"
"I wish he was here to punish you!" cried Joyce venomously, "he was quite as clever as you Herrick. But you waited till he sailed, before plotting to capture my father."
"So the Don has sailed? When did he go?"