"Ah, worse!"
"But why did they induce you to entice me to that house in Lambeth? Why
did they so evidently desire that I should be killed?"
"By accident," he interrupted, correcting me. "Always by accident," and
he smiled grimly.
"Surely you know their secret motive?" I remarked.
"At the time I did not," he declared. "I acted on their instructions,
being compelled to, for they hold my future in their hands. Therefore I
could not disobey. You knew too much, therefore you were marked down for
death--just as you are now."
"And who is it who is now seeking my life?" I inquired gravely. "I only
returned from Russia yesterday."
"Your movements are well known," answered the young Italian. "You cannot
be too careful. Woodroffe has been in Russia with you, has he not?"
I replied in the affirmative, whereupon he said:
"I thought so, but was not quite sure."
"And Chater?" I inquired; "where is he?"
"In London."
"And the Leithcourts?"
He shrugged his shoulders with a gesture of ignorance, adding: "The
Signorina Muriel returned to London from Eastbourne this morning.
Pages:
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422