"Exactly; I must decide."
Rankine looked hard at him, knitting his brows.
"I cannot tell you what my orders are," he said; "but you put me in an awkward position. I may do wrong in not reporting our conversation."
"Even if you did report it, I should stick to the line I've taken. If it led to my arrest, that would, of course, prevent my watching the coast—and I can do that as well as you."
"Better; for you wouldn't be suspected. Well, as I see you must be indulged, I'll tell you how to find me when you have something more to say. You must be careful to follow my instructions."
"Then write them down."
"I think not; I'm rather straining my authority in giving them to you at all, and secrecy is important."
Whitney got up.
"Perhaps I ought to remind you that I'm not a British subject," he said.
Rankine smiled.