"And if the sentry should appear while we're at it, what then?"
"Well, in that case," he said with a laugh, "I'll leave it to your own instinct to know what to do with him; but I should suggest timing it so that you'll just miss him."
"And how are you going to manage to get into this courtyard after you've been locked up for the night?"
"Leave that to me, I'll work it. Perhaps I shan't go in at all."
"And when you're out, what are your plans?"
"Tanjong Priok, as slippery as the Malay can take us. Then we must get into the docks, borrow a boat, and set sail for the islands, to hide there till we can get on to Singapore or Ceylon. Batavia will be no sort of place for either of us after that. You'll stand by me, Ramsay?"
"I've given you my word," I said; "I can't say more than that, can I?"
"Not if you're the man I take you to be. Anyhow I'll trust you."
Just at that moment a stir was observable in the yard; the great gate at the end swung open, and a party of police entered. They came to where I stood, and signified that I should accompany them.
"Good luck," cried Veneda as I rose to go; "don't forget me."