“Thanks,” said Rowton. “I belong to you, and I shall, of course, do my best for the interests of the business.”
“That’s right,” said Long John after a pause. “The fact is, you have come back in the nick of time—that affair in Spain can, I find, be re-opened. Bonds to the tune of £20,000 are to be conveyed from Madrid to Paris by train on the night of the 20th. Spider will meet you in Madrid. How soon can you go there?”
Rowton started and looked troubled.
“Before I make any promises,” he said after a pause, “I wish to say something on another matter.”
“What is that?”
“I wish to ask a favour.”
“A favour, Silver,” said Scrivener. “You seem great at that sort of thing lately.”
“This matter is of much importance to me, Piper,” said Rowton, fixing his bold eyes on the meagre face of the other man. “I want the headquarters of our school to be removed from Rowton Heights.”
This demand was evidently most unexpected. The different men looked at each other with blank faces. Scrivener shook his head, leapt forward and whispered something in the ears of the man known by the name of Long John.
“It is quite impossible, Silver, and the matter cannot be further discussed,” said Piper in an incisive voice, which sounded like the snapping of steel.