“It may be,” said he, “that we’ll need a little help. And this is about as good a way to have a couple of willing lads hanging around as a fellow could think of.”
Sergeant-Major Kretz was upon the wall; when the car drew up at the gate he scrambled down inside. A moment or two later the gate was opened, and Campe, much surprised, made his appearance.
“Back again,” said the big man, cheerfully, as he got out, followed by the investigator. “Everything all right?”
“Everything,” replied the young man. He shook hands with Ashton-Kirk, and added: “I’m very glad to see you again.”
Scanlon looked about. There was no one within ear-shot, so he remarked:
“You didn’t say anything further about that matter we talked about the other night, so I thought I’d help you make up your mind by bringing my friend to see you.”
If he expected young Campe to show surprise at hearing that Ashton-Kirk was the person mentioned in that conversation, Scanlon was disappointed. The young man merely said, quietly:
“It was rather a difficult thing to solve for myself. I’m glad that you’ve done it for me.” Then addressing the special detective, he added: “Will you come in?”
The car was driven into the courtyard; then the two men followed Campe into the house. When they had seated themselves at a table in one corner of the trophy-hung room, Ashton-Kirk said:
“It is always more or less presumptuous to interfere in the private affairs of another. However, there are times, and all persons of experience have encountered them, when this does not hold good. A man occasionally gets into such deep water that he is helpless; at the same time there may be reasons, as I understand there are in your case, which may prevent his asking for help.”