into definite suspicion. He put his screw hammer into his pocket and

walked through the archway into the street, to settle the business

forthwith, for he prided himself on his decision. Hoopdriver was merely

promenading, and they met face to face.

At the sight of his adversary, something between disgust and laughter

seized Mr. Hoopdriver and for a moment destroyed his animosity. "'Ere

we are again!" he said, laughing insincerely in a sudden outbreak at the

perversity of chance.

The other man in brown stopped short in Mr. Hoopdriver's way, staring.

Then his face assumed an expression of dangerous civility. "Is it any

information to you," he said, with immense politeness, "when I remark

that you are following us?"

Mr. Hoopdriver, for some occult reason, resisted his characteristic

impulse to apologise. He wanted to annoy the other man in brown, and a

sentence that had come into his head in a previous rehearsal cropped up

appropriately. "Since when," said Mr. Hoopdriver, catching his breath,

yet bringing the question out valiantly, nevertheless,--"since when 'ave

you purchased the county of Sussex?"

"May I point out," said the other man in brown, "that I object--we

object not only to your proximity to us. To be frank--you appear to be

following us--with an object."

The Wheels of Chance