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and it was as though his soul swooned within him for fear of what
the answer might be。
〃What do the children say？〃 Deede Dawson returned with his terrible
smile。 〃I'll give you three guesses； isn't it？ See if you can
guess in three tries。〃
〃What's in there？〃 Rupert asked the third time； and Deede Dawson
laid down the screw…driver with which he had just driven home the
last screw。
〃Oh； see for yourself； if you want to；〃 he said。 〃But you ought to
know。 You know what was in the other case I sent away from here；
the one I got Ella to take in the car for me？ I want you to take
this one away now； the sooner it's away the better。〃
〃That's it； is it？〃 Rupert muttered。
He no longer doubted； and for a moment all things swam together
before him and he felt dizzy and a little sick； and so weak he
staggered and nearly fell； but recovered himself in time。
The sensation passed and he saw Deede Dawson as it were a long way
off； and between them the packing…case； huge； monstrous； and evil；
like a thing of dread from some other world。 Violent shudderings
swept though him one after the other； and he was aware that Deede
Dawson was speaking again。
〃What did you say？〃 he asked vacantly； when the other paused。
〃You look ill；〃 Deede Dawson answered。 〃Anything wrong？ Why have
you come back so soon？ Have you failed？〃
Rupert passed his hand before his eyes to clear away the mist that
hung there and that hampered his sight。
He perceived that Deede Dawson held his right hand in the pocket
of his coat； grasping something that bulged out curiously。
He divined that it was a pistol； and that Deede Dawson was ready
to shoot at any moment； but that he wished very greatly to know
first of all what had happened and why Rupert had returned so soon
and whether there was immediate necessity for flight or not。
That he was uneasy was certain； for his cold eyes showed a
hesitation and a doubt such as Rupert had never seen in them before。
〃I'll tell you what's happened；〃 Rupert heard himself saying
hoarsely。 〃If you'll tell me what's in there。〃
〃A bargain； eh？〃 Deede Dawson said。 〃It's easy enough。 You can
look for yourself if you unscrew the lid； but then； after all； why
should we take all that trouble？〃
As he spoke his pistol showed in his hand； and at once the heavy
glass inkpot Rupert had held all this time flew straight and true；
and with tremendous force； at Deede Dawson's head。
He avoided it only by the extreme rapidity with which he dropped
behind the packing…case； and it flew over his head and crashed
against the centre panel of a big wardrobe that stood in one
corner of the room； splitting the panel it struck from top to
bottom。
Following it； Rupert hurled himself forward with one great spring；
but agile as a cat that leaps away from the mastiff's teeth； Deede
Dawson slipped from his grasp to the other side of the room。 In
doing so he knocked his arm against the corner of the packing…case；
so that his revolver fell to the ground。
With a shout Rupert stooped and seized it； and straightened himself
to see that Deede Dawson had already another revolver in his hand
… a second one that he had drawn from an inner pocket。
They remained very still； watching each other intently； neither
eager to fire； since both wished first to make the other speak。 For
Rupert desired very greatly that Deede Dawson should tell him where
Ella was； and Deede Dawson needed that Rupert should explain what
had gone wrong； and how imminent and great was the danger that
therefore most likely threatened him。
Each knew； too； that the slightest movement he made would set the
other shooting； and each realized that in that close and narrow
space any exchange of shots must almost of necessity mean the death
of both； since both were cool and deadly marksmen； well accustomed
to the use of the revolver。
Deede Dawson was the first to speak。
〃Well； what next？〃 he said。 〃If that inkpot of yours had hit me it
would pretty well have knocked my brains out； and if I hadn't hit
my elbow against the corner of the packing…case I would have had you
shot through with holes like a sieve by now。 So far the score's
even。 Let's chat a bit； and see if we can't come to some arrangement。
Look； I'll show I trust you；〃
As he spoke he laid down； much to Rupert's surprise； and to his
equal suspicion； his revolver on the top of a moth…eaten roll of
old carpet that leaned against the wall near where he was standing。
〃You see； I trust you；〃 he said once more。
〃Take your pistol up again；〃 answered Rupert grimly。 〃I do not
trust you。〃
〃Ah； that's a pity。〃 Deede Dawson smiled； making no effort to do as
the other said。 〃You see； we are both good shots； and if we start
blazing away at each other up here we shall both be leaking pretty
badly before long。 That's a prospect that has no attraction for me；
I don't know if it has for you。 But there are things I can tell you
that might be interesting； and things you can tell me I want to know。
Why not exchange a little information； and then separate calmly；
rather than indulge in pistol practice that can only mean the death
of us both？ For if your first bullet goes though my brain I swear
my first will be in your heart。〃
〃Likely enough；〃 agreed Rupert； 〃but worth while perhaps。〃
〃Oh； that's fanaticism；〃 Deede Dawson answered。 〃Flattering perhaps
to me； but not quite reasonable； eh？〃
〃There's only one thing I want to know from you；〃 Rupert said slowly。
〃Then why not ask it； why not agree to the little arrangement I
suggest； eh？ Eh； Rupert Dunsmore？〃
〃You know me； then？〃
〃Oh； long enough。〃
〃Where is Ella？〃
Deede Dawson laughed again。
〃That's a thing I know and you don't；〃 he said。 〃Well； she's safe
away in London by this time。〃
〃That's a lie； for her mother's here still；〃 answered Rupert； even
though his heart leapt merely to hear the words。
〃Unbelieving Thomas；〃 smiled the other。 〃Well； then； she is where
she is； and that you can find out for yourself。 But I'll make
another suggestion。 We are both good shots； and if we start to fire
we shall kill each other。 I am certain of killing you； but I shan't
escape myself。 Well； then； why not toss for it？ Equal chances for
both； and certain safety for one。 Will you toss me； the one who
loses to give up his pistol to the other？
〃It seems to me a good idea；〃 Deede Dawson argued。 〃Here we are
watching each other like cats； and knowing that the least movement
of either will start the other off； and both of us pulling trigger
as hard as we can。 My idea would mean a chance for one。 Well；
let's try another way； the best shot to win。 You don't trust me；
but I will you。〃
Leaving his pistol lying where he had put it down； he crossed the
attic； and with a pencil he took from his pocket drew a circle on
the panel of the wardrobe door that Rupert had split with the
inkpot he had thrown。
In the centre of the circle he marked a dot； and turned smilingly
to the frowning and suspicious Rupert。
〃There you are；〃 he said； and made another circle near the first
one。 〃Now you put a bullet into the middle of this circle and I'll
put