“What rubbish are you talking?” demanded Rayne.
“Rubbish!” echoed the stranger. “I am talking no rubbish. I am simply reminding you of a very serious and secret matter, namely, the mysterious end of Monsieur Gérard, of the Château du Sierroz in the Jura, and of the Avenue des Champs Elysées. The Sûreté, in combination with the Danish detective service, are still trying to clear up the affair. You and I can do it,” he said; and, after a pause, he looked Rayne straight in the face, and asked: “Shall we? It rests with you!”
Rayne frowned darkly. Never before had I witnessed such an evil look upon the face of any man. I knew that his brain was working swiftly, and I also saw that our visitor was most unwelcome—evidently an accomplice who had managed by some unaccountable means to penetrate the veil of secrecy in which the super-crook had always so successfully enveloped his identity.
“Well,” he laughed. “You really are a most dramatic person, Signor Gori, or whatever your name may be. I really don’t understand you, unless you are attempting to blackmail me. And if you are, then I’ll get my servant to show you the door.”
The stranger smiled meaningly, and asked quite quietly:
“Is it not to your advantage, Signor Rayne, to talk this little matter over in a friendly spirit? I offer you the opportunity. If you refuse it——” And he shrugged his shoulders meaningly, without concluding his sentence.
Rayne was silent for a few seconds. Then he said in quite a changed and genial tone:
“I am much mystified at your visit, Signor Gori, for I certainly have no knowledge of you. But the hour is late. If you are staying in the neighborhood could you call again at noon to-morrow, when we will go further into this tangled affair? We seem to be at cross-purposes to-night.”
“As you wish,” replied the visitor, bowing with exquisite politeness. “I am staying at the Fleece Hotel, at Thirsk, and I have motored out here. To-morrow at noon I will call upon you.” And then he added in a hard, relentless tone: “And then I trust your memory will be refreshed. Signori, I wish you both buona sera.”