"We shall have to watch."
"That's it, we shall have to watch and take care nobody knows it," Brennan replied in a low tone. "Have you a revolver?"
"No. The one we kept in the bank was stolen from the drawer with the money."
"Then slip this into your pocket," Brennan said, as he passed a bright nickel-plated "bull-dog" to Harding. "It's loaded in all the chambers and has a snap trigger; but it's no good for a long shot, though it makes as much noise as a service carbine. Don't hesitate to use it if anything happens—the noise will let me know, and there's no danger of hitting anyone with it unless you are a better shot than I am."
"But where are you going?"
Brennan jerked his head towards the door.
"You see me off the premises and then tell the girl to fetch those blankets away again. After that, keep your eyes open and rest assured that as soon as you let off the barker I've given you, I shall not be far off. If there is any arrangement such as I have suggested, my going now will put them off their guard and our gentleman will get the signal to make his call as expected. Bringing in those blankets has given the game away—to me it shows just what is in the wind."
When he had seen Brennan off the premises, Harding told Bessie to remove the blankets from the office, and returned to the little room.
The door was ajar when he reached it, but there was no answer to his rap. He pushed it open and entered. Mrs. Eustace was not there.
He turned, and came face to face with her as he stood in the doorway, though he had not heard her approach.