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and then you must strike straight across country for here。 You can
look up your routes on the map。 There will be less risk of
attracting attention if you come and go by different ways。 You
ought to be here again some time in the small hours。 I'll let you
in； and you'll have cleared your own score with Rupert Dunsmore and
earned more money than you ever have had in all your life before。
Now； can I depend on you？〃
〃Yes … yes；〃 answered Dunn； over whom there had come a new and
strange sense of unreality as he stood and listened to cold…blooded
murder being thus calmly； coolly planned； as though it were some
afternoon's pleasure trip that was being arranged； so that he
hardly knew whether he did； in fact； hear this smooth； low；
unceasing voice that from the darkness at his side laid down such
a bloody road for his feet to travel。
〃Oh； yes； you can depend on me；〃 he said。 〃But can I depend on you；
when you say Rupert Dunsmore will be there at that time and that
place？〃
It was a moment or two before Deede Dawson answered； and then his
voice was very low and soft and confident as he said：
〃Yes； you can … absolutely。 You see； I know his plans。〃
〃Oh； do you？〃 Dunn said as though satisfied。 〃Oh； well then； it's
no wonder you're so sure。〃
〃No wonder at all；〃 agreed Deede Dawson。 〃There's just one other
thing I can tell you。 Some one else will be there； too； at Brook
Bourne Spring in Ottam's Wood。〃
〃Who's that？〃 asked Dunn sharply。
〃The man；〃 said Deede Dawson； 〃who is behind all this … the man you
and I are working for … the man who's going to pay us； even better
than he thinks。〃
〃He … he will be there？〃 repeated Dunn； drawing a deep； breath。
〃Yes； but you won't see him； and it wouldn't help you if you did；〃
Deede Dawson told him。 〃Most likely he'll be disguised … a mask；
perhaps； I don't know。 Anyhow； he'll be there。 Watching。 I'm
not suggesting you would do such a thing as never go near the place；
loaf around a bit； then come back and report Rupert Dunsmore out of
the way for good； draw your pay and vanish； and leave us to find out
he was as lively and troublesome as ever。 I don't think you would
do that； because you sounded as if you meant what you said when you
told me he was your worst enemy。 But it's just as well to be sure；
and so we mean to have a witness； and as it's what you might call
a delicate matter； that witness will most likely be our employer
himself。 So you had better do the job thoroughly if you want your
pay。〃
〃I see you take your precautions；〃 remarked Dunn。 〃Well； that's
all right； I don't mind。〃
〃You understand exactly what you've got to do？〃 Deede Dawson asked。
Dunn nodded。
〃What about Allen？〃 he asked。 〃Does he take any part in this show？〃
〃He and I are planning a little visit to Wreste Abbey rather early
the same night； during the dinner…hour most likely；〃 answered Deede
Dawson carelessly。 〃We can get in at one of the long gallery windows
quite easily； Allen says。 He kept his eyes open that day you all
went there。 It may be helpful to give the police two problems to
work on at once； and besides； big as this thing is； there's a
shortage of ready money at present。 But our little affair at Wreste
Abbey will have nothing to do with you。 You mind what you've got
to do； and don't trouble about anything else。 See？〃
〃I see；〃 answered Dunn slowly。 〃And if you can arrange for Rupert
Dunsmore to be there at that time all right； I'll answer for the
rest。〃
〃You needn't be uneasy about that；〃 Deede Dawson said； and laughed。
〃You see； I know his plans；〃 he repeated； and laughed again； and
still laughing that chill； mirthless way of his； he turned and
walked back towards the house。
Dunn watched him go through the darkness； and to himself he
muttered：
〃Yes； but I wonder if you do。〃
CHAPTER XXIII
COUNTER…PLANS
The hour was late by now； but Dunn felt no inclination for sleep；
and there was no need for him to return indoors as yet； since Deede
Dawson； who always locked up the house himself； never did so till
past midnight。 Till the small hours； very often he was accustomed
to sit up absorbed in those chess problems； the composing and
solving of which were his great passion； so that； indeed； it is
probable that under other circumstances he might have passed a
perfectly harmless and peaceful existence； known to wide circles as
an extraordinarily clever problemist and utterly unknown elsewhere。
But the Fate that is； after all； but man's own character writ large；
had decreed otherwise。 And the little； fat； smiling man bending
over his travelling chess board on which he moved delicately to and
fro the tiny red and white men of carved ivory； now and again
removing a piece and laying it aside； had done as much with as
little concern to his fellow creatures from the very beginning of
his terrible career。
Outside； leaning on the gate where Deede Dawson had left him； Dunn
was deep in thought that was not always very comforting； for there
was very much in all this laid out for him to accomplish that he
did not understand and that disturbed him a good deal。
A careful； cautious 〃Hist！〃 broke in upon his thoughts； and in an
instant he stiffened to close attention； every nerve on the alert。
The sound was repeated； a faint and wary footstep sounded； and in
the darkness a form appeared and stole slowly nearer。
Dunn poised for a moment； ready for attack or retreat； and then all
at once his tense attitude relaxed。
〃You； Walter；〃 he exclaimed。 〃That's good！ But how did you get
here？ And how did you know where I was？〃
The new…comer drew a little nearer and showed the tall； thin form
of Walter Dunsmore to whom Dunn had spoken at Wreste Abbey。
〃I had to come；〃 he murmured。 〃I couldn't rest without seeing you。
You upset me the other day； saying what you did。 Isn't it very
dangerous your being here？ Suppose Deede Dawson … 〃
〃Oh； if he suspected； there would soon be an end of me；〃 answered
Dunn grimly。 〃But I think I'm going to win … at least； I did till
tonight。〃
〃What's happened？〃 the other asked sharply and anxiously。
〃He has been telling me his plans；〃 answered Dunn。 〃He has told me
everything … he has put himself entirely in my power … he has done
what I have been waiting and hoping for ever since I came here。
He has given me his full confidence at last； and I never felt more
uneasy or less certain of success than I do at this moment。〃
〃He has told you … everything？〃 Walter Dunsmore asked。 〃Everything；
except who is behind it all；〃 answered Dunn。 〃I asked him who he
was acting for； and he refused to say。 But we shall know that
tomorrow； for he told me something almost as good … he told me where
this employer would be at four o'clock tomorrow afternoon。 So then
we shall have him； unless Deede Dawson was lying。〃
〃Of course； it all depends on finding that out；〃 remarked Walter
thoughtfully。 〃Finding out his identity。〃
〃Yes； that's the key move to the problem；〃 Dunn said。 〃And tomorrow
we shall know it； if Deede Dawson was speaking the truth just now。〃
〃I should think he was；〃 said Walter slowly。 〃I should think it is
c