"That fellow Credo is a genius; it's a pity he is not an honest man."
Oscar could see into the room and could overhear every word—almost hear a whisper, so cunningly had the eavesdropping trap been contrived. Oscar peeped in, and there was his siren, and there also was his whilom friend Girard. He and the siren were alone. Both wore a pleased look upon their faces; they were in a merry mood, and the man Girard said as our hero got fixed to take in their sayings:
"He thinks himself a very smart fellow."
"Don't make any mistake; he is a smart fellow—the smartest fellow that ever started out to shadow us, and he would be too much for us but for one fact."
"And what is that?"
"He is honest and sympathetic, otherwise I would never have succeeded in fooling and getting him in tow, but now I've got him."
"You feel assured of that?"
"I do. I've secured him on the only weak side he's got. He is the hardest man to secure I ever started out to gain, but I've gone for him on just the right tack. I will handle him with care; I will learn all he knows. I will learn just who is working in with him, and then——"
"What then?"
"Alas! it's sad to think of it. He is a good fellow, but he must walk the plank like the rest of them."