“Because he was too lively for me. Roake has told you of his flight and my pursuit, and my catching the wrong man?”
“Yes.”
“Well, you see the secret of Colonel Conrad’s last message lies between Carlos Conrad and myself. Put what I know and what he knows together, and something will be revealed that you want to know. My share is for sale at the price I have named.”
“Very well. You have told Roake nothing of this?”
“No.”
“Then give me the letter.”
“The price first.”
Snags drew the letter from his pocket and held it aloft.
“My name is Geoffrey Haywood. Now look at me.”
Haywood tore away the mask and turned his face full on Snags. The light of the moon enabled the latter to take a satisfactory view of the countenance of his hitherto unknown “boss.”