“If it is worth my while.”
“Then will you honestly turn over half your winnings to me, if I introduce this stranger to you?”
“With all my heart! All I stipulate is that you lose no time over it. How are you going to manage it?”
“Well, the matter does not strike me as very difficult. I have had a few games with your pigeon. But I am such a duffer at play that I need never hope to make my fortune in that line. Suppose I try to persuade him to come to Lina? You could be on the look out; I would introduce you; and your own cleverness could do the rest.”
“When shall it be? To-morrow night?”
“That I cannot say. If I were Mr. Danvers’ bosom friend it might be straightforward sailing. As it is, I am only a new acquaintance, although I have done my best to ingratiate myself with him. If I invite him over here it must be with some special excuse. A little supper party would do it. You could invite the gentleman who seemed so partial to you last night to make a fourth, and I’ll stand exes.”
Mr. Staines seized this plan with avidity, and almost overwhelmed his informant with questions, all of which related in some way or other to the supposed habits and circumstances of the myth which had been invoked solely in Harley Riddell’s interests. Satisfied eventually that a very good haul was probably in store for him, he went on his way rejoicing. Mr. Bootle would not return with him to the hotel, but pleaded that his only sensible course was to return to Gibraltar, whence he professed to have come, in order to endeavour to make an appointment with Mr. Danvers.
But the reader hardly needs to be told that Gibraltar saw nothing of Mr. Bootle that evening. On the contrary, he went straight to the lodgings that he found so comfortable and convenient. Briny was waiting for him with his usual watchfulness, and was very glad to find that he was not doomed to spend the whole evening alone. Instead of going to bed Mr. Bootle carefully changed his apparel, and emerged presently from the room attired as Miss Una Stratton.
“You are in nice time for supper, Miss Stratton,” said Mrs. Dollman. “I hope your headache has left you.”
“Thank you,” was the reply. “I feel much better now. Do you mind my bringing Briny into the room with me? He has had to be very quiet since tea-time.”