"What did he say?" Phrida asked when he had gone.
"Oh, only wanted me to buy the lot for five francs!" I replied, for he had enjoined secrecy, and I knew not but he might be an emissary of Frémy or of Edwards. Therefore I deemed it best for the time to evade her question.
Still, both excited and puzzled, I eagerly kept the appointment.
When I emerged from the hotel on the stroke of eleven I saw the man without his pile of merchandise standing in the shadow beneath a tree, on the opposite side of the boulevard, awaiting me.
Quickly I crossed to him, and asked:
"Well, what do you want with me?"
"Ah, Mee-ster Royle! I have watched you and the young laidee a long time. You travel so quickly, and I go by train from town to town—slowly."
"Yes, but why?" I asked, as we strolled together under the trees.
"I want to tell you some-zing, mee-ster. I no Arabe—I Senos, from Huacho."
"From Huacho!" I gasped quickly.