“By Messieurs Danvers and Wheelock. They are in my reception room waiting for me at this moment.”
“Had you better not introduce me; you know that I have not met them as yet.”
“No more have I. You’d better wait until I’ve settled this matter with them. Come to-morrow and I’ll be able to give you full information as to the price that will be paid if the dispatch is recovered.”
“I’m afraid it never will be. These Lascars are cunning dogs.”
“But Siki made the mistake of trying to dispose of the paper in Paris. That is how we found him out. No one would have suspected that he had it, but for that. And a man who makes a mistake once, may do so again.”
“You are right. Good-night, Monsieur Fochard. I will call upon you to-morrow as you request.”
The door leading to the street opened, and the other voice returned.
“Good-night, monsieur. Have no fear. I think all will be well in the end.”
The door then closed, and the man Fochard returned to the room adjoining. Ethan gripped Longsword’s arm in a clasp that made even that man of iron wince.
“No matter what happens,” said he, “express no surprise. Act as though you considered it all as a matter of course.”