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and she were alone together a long time。〃
〃Well；〃 growled Dunn； 〃what of it？〃
〃Fine girl； isn't she？〃 asked Deede Dawson； and laughed。
Dunn did not speak。 It filled him with such loathing to hear this
man so much as utter Ella's name； it was all he could do to keep
his hands motionless by his side and not make use of them about the
other's throat。
〃She's been useful； very useful；〃 Deede Dawson went on meditatively。
〃Her mother had some money when I married her。 I don't mind telling
you it's all spent now； but Ella's a little fortune in herself。〃
〃I didn't know we came to talk about her；〃 said Dunn slowly。 〃I
thought you had something else to say to me。〃
〃So I have；〃 Deede Dawson answered。 〃That's why I brought you here。
We are safe from eavesdroppers here； in a house you can never tell
who is behind a curtain or a door。 But then； Ella is a part of my
plans； a very important part。 Do you remember I told you I might
want you to take a second packing…case away from here in the car
one night？〃
〃Yes； I remember；〃 said Dunn slowly。 〃I remember。 What would be
in it？ The same sort of thing that was in … that other？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Deede Dawson。 〃Much the same。〃
〃I shall want to see for myself；〃 said Dunn。 〃I'm a trustful sort of
person； but I don't go driving about the country with packing…cases
late at night unless I've seen for myself what's inside。〃
CHAPTER XXII
PLOTS AND PLAYS
〃Very wise of you；〃 yawned Deede Dawson。 〃That's just what Ella
said … what's that？〃
For instinctively Dunn had raised his hand； but he lowered it again
at once。
〃Oh； cut the cackle；〃 he said impatiently。 〃Tell me what you want
me to do； and make it plain； very plain； for I can tell you there's
a good deal about all this I don't understand； and I'm not inclined
to trust you far。 For one thing； what are you after yourself？ Where
do you come in？ What are you going to get？ And there's another
thing I want to say。 If you are thinking of playing any tricks on
me don't do it； unless you are ready to take big risks。 There's only
one man alive who ever made a fool of me； and his name is Rupert
Dunsmore； and I don't think he's today what insurance companies call
a good risk。 Not by any manner of means。〃 He paused to laugh
harshly。 〃Let's get to business；〃 he said。 〃Look here； how do I
know you mean all you say about Rupert Dunsrnore？ What's he to you？〃
〃Nothing；〃 answered Deede Dawson promptly。 〃Nothing。 But there's
some one I'm acting for to whom he is a good deal。〃
〃Who is that？〃 Dunn asked sharply。
〃Do you think I'm going to tell you？〃 retorted the other； and
laughed in his cold； mirthless manner。 〃Perhaps you aren't the
only one who owes him a grudge。〃
〃That's likely enough； but I want to know where I'm standing；〃 said
Dunn。 〃Is this unknown person you say you are acting for anxious
to bring about Rupert Dunsmore's death？〃
〃I'm not answering any questions； so you needn't ask them；〃 replied
Deede Dawson。
〃But I will tell you that there's something big going on。 Or I
shouldn't be in it； I don't use my brains on small things； you know。
If it comes off all right； I … 〃 He paused； and for once a thrill
of genuine emotion sounded in his voice。 〃Thousands；〃 he said
abruptly。 〃Yes； and more … more。 But there's an obstacle … Rupert
Dunsmore。 It's your place to remove him。 That '11 suit you； and
it'll mean good pay； as much as you like to ask for in reason。 And
Ella； if you want her。 The girl won't be any use to me when this
is over； and you can have her if you like。 I don't think she'll
object from what I can see … not that it would matter if she did。
So there you are。 Put Rupert Dunsmore out of the way and it'll be
the best day's work you've ever done； and you shall have Ella into
the bargain … if you claim her。 Makeweight。〃
He began to laugh again and Dunn laughed； too； for while he was not
sure what it was that amused Deede Dawson； there were certain
aspects of all this that bore for him a very curious and ironic
humour。
〃All right；〃 he said。 〃You bring me face to face with Rupert
Dunsmore and you won't have to grumble about the result； for I
swear only one of us will go away alive。 But how are you going to
do it？〃
〃I've my plan； and it's simple enough；〃 answered Deede Dawson。
〃Though I can tell you it took some working out。 But the simplest
problem is always the best； whether in life or in chess。〃 Again he
indulged in a low and guarded outburst of his thin； mirthless
laughter before he continued： 〃I suppose you know Rupert Dunsmore
is one of those restless people who are never content except when
wandering about in some out of the way place or another； as often
as not no one having the least idea of his whereabouts。 Then he
turns up unexpectedly； only to disappear again when the whim takes
him。 Lately he has been away on one of these trips； but I happen
to know he is coming back almost at once … what's the matter？〃
〃I was only wondering how you knew that；〃 answered Dunn； who had
given a sudden start。
〃Oh； I know； never mind how；〃 Deede Dawson said。 〃I know that
tomorrow afternoon at four o'clock he will be waiting by the side
of Brook Bourne Spring in Ottom's Wood； near General Dunsmore's
place。 Which is as out of the way and quiet and lonely a spot as
you could wish for。〃
〃And you have information that he will be there？〃 Dunn said
incredulously。 〃How can you possibly be sure of that？〃
〃Never mind how；〃 answered Deede Dawson。 〃I am sure。 That's enough。
My information is certain。〃
〃Oh； it is； is it？ 〃Dunn muttered。 〃You are a wonderful man； Mr。
Dawson。 You know everything … or nearly everything。 You are sure
of everything … or nearly everything … but suppose he changes his
mind at the last moment and doesn't come after all？〃
〃He won't；〃 answered Deede Dawson。 〃You be there and you'll find
him there all right。〃
〃Well； perhaps；〃 said Dunn slowly。 〃But what I want to know is why
you are so sure？ There's a good deal hangs on your being right；
you know。〃
〃I only wish I was as certain of everything else；〃 Deede Dawson said。
〃Oh； all right；〃 exclaimed Dunn。 〃I suppose you know and you may
be right。〃
〃I am；〃 Deede Dawson assured him。 〃Listen carefully now； there
mustn't be any blunders。 You are to make an early start tomorrow。
I don't want you to take the car for fear of its being seen and
identified。 You must take the train to London and then another
train back immediately to Delsby。 From Delsby you'll have an
eighteen…mile walk through lonely country where you aren't likely
to meet any one； and must try not to。 The less you are seen the
better。 You know that for yourself； and for your own sake you'll
be careful。 You'll have no time to spare； but you will be able to
get to the place I told you of by four all right … no earlier； no
later。 You must arrange to be there at four exactly。 You may
spoil all if you are too early。 Almost as soon as you get there；
Rupert Dunsmore will arrive。 You must do the rest for yourself；
and then you must strike straight across country for here。 You can
look up your routes on the ma