Next morning we left Enderby by train and returned to Overstow in the late afternoon.
Duperré had gone up to Glasgow upon some mysterious business—crooked without a doubt—so that night, after dining together, Rayne and I played a game of billiards. While we were smoking in the library prior to turning in, the footman tapped at the door and entered with a note.
Rayne tore it open, and as he read it, I noticed that his countenance fell. A second later I saw that he was extremely annoyed.
He rose from his chair and for a few moments hesitated. Then, in a rather thick voice, said:
“Show him in.” After the servant had gone he turned to me, and in a changed voice said: “Remain here, George. But never breathe a word of what you hear to a living soul! Remember that!”
In a few moment a well-dressed, narrow-faced, bald-headed, rather cadaverous man was shown in. He clicked his heels together and bowed with foreign politeness and with a smile upon his sinister countenance.
“I have the honor to meet Signor Rayne?” he asked, with a distinctly Italian accent.
“That is my name,” replied Rudolph inquiringly.
“Good! Then you will recognize me, and my name upon my letter in which I have asked for this private interview.”
“No. I certainly do not,” he said. “I have no knowledge of ever meeting you before!”