“Listen to me,” said Longcluse, suddenly. “Is your brother-in-law here?”
“No, Monsieur.”
“Well, you have some London friend in the room, haven't you?”
“One—yes.”
“Only be sure he is one whom you can trust, and who has a safe pocket.”
“Oh, yes, Monsieur, entirely! and I saw him place his purse so,” he said, touching his coat, over his heart, with his fingers.
“Well, now, you can't manage it here, under the gaze of the people; but—where is best? Yes—you see those two doors at opposite sides in the wall, at the far end of the room? They open into two parallel corridors leading to the hall, and a little way down there is a cross passage, in the middle of which is a door opening into a smoking-room. That room will be deserted now, and there, unseen, you can place your money and dagger in his charge.”
“Ah, thank you a hundred thousand times, Monsieur!” answered Lebas. “I shall be writing to the Baron van Boeren to-morrow, and I will tell him I have met Monsieur.”
“Don't mind; how is the baron?” asked Longcluse.
“Very well. Beginning to be not so young, you know, and thinking of retiring. I will tell him his work has succeeded. If he demolishes, he also secures. If he sometimes sheds blood——”