www.freeclassicebooks.com

for a number, and the reply "Correct."

Two knocks followed in quick succession on the door below. The first man was

quite unknown to Tommy, who put him down as a city clerk. A quiet, intelligent-

looking man, rather shabbily dressed. The second was of the working classes,

and his face was vaguely familiar to the young man.

Three minutes later came another, a man of commanding appearance, exquisitely

dressed, and evidently well born. His face, again, was not unknown to the

watcher, though he could not for the moment put a name to it.

After his arrival there was a long wait. In fact Tommy concluded that the

gathering was now complete, and was just cautiously creeping out from his

hiding-place, when another knock sent him scuttling back to cover.

This last-comer came up the stairs so quietly that he was almost abreast of

Tommy before the young man had realized his presence.

He was a small man, very pale, with a gentle almost womanish air. The angle of

the cheek-bones hinted at his Slavonic ancestry, otherwise there was nothing to

indicate his nationality. As he passed the recess, he turned his head slowly. The

strange light eyes seemed to burn through the curtain; Tommy could hardly

believe that the man did not know he was there and in spite of himself he

shivered. He was no more fanciful than the majority of young Englishmen, but he

could not rid himself of the impression that some unusually potent force

emanated from the man. The creature reminded him of a venomous snake.

A moment later his impression was proved correct. The new-comer knocked on

the door as all had done, but his reception was very different. The bearded man

rose to his feet, and all the others followed suit. The German came forward and

shook hands. His heels clicked together.

We are honoured," he said. "We are greatly honoured. I much feared that it

would be impossible."

The other answered in a low voice that had a kind of hiss in it:

"There were difficulties. It will not be possible again, I fear. But one meeting is

essential--to define my policy. I can do nothing without--Mr. Brown. He is here?"

The change in the German's voice was audible as he replied with slight hesitation:

The Secret Adversary