"You wouldn't approve of my course of action."
"All the more reason for telling me."
Deaves still hesitated.
"Let me see the latest letter," said Evan at a venture.
Deaves stared. "How did you know there was a letter?"
"Well there always is another when the first doesn't work, isn't there?"
Deaves looking a little foolish produced a letter and handed it over. Evan read:
"The enclosed speaks for itself. You will please proceed as follows:—bearing in mind that the slightest departure from our instructions in the past has invariably been followed by disaster:
You will leave home in your car at eight P.M. Tuesday. You may bring a companion with you in addition to your chauffeur, as we realize you have not the constitution to carry this through alone and we do not wish to ask the impossible. Therefore you may bring the huskiest body-guard obtainable—but neither you nor he must bear weapons of any description.
You will proceed over the Queensboro Bridge and wait on the North side of the Plaza at the corner of Stonewall avenue until eight-thirty precisely. You will not get out of your car during this wait. You will be under observation the whole way, and we will instantly be apprised of any departure from our instructions. In that case you will have your trip for nothing and the consequences will be on your head.