Hench looked at him hard, then abruptly left the room to assure Mrs. Bell that everything was all right. After he had sent her to bed, at rest in her mind about the stranger, he returned to the parlour and closed the door in an ostentatious manner. Spruce laughed. "You are going to let me stay, then," he remarked coolly and sitting down again. Hench sat opposite to him with a resolute air. "You don't leave this room until you fully explain what the devil you mean by dogging my footsteps in this way," he said sternly. "Dogged is a good word, or was it dogging? Both are good words. You will have to be dogged so far as your courage is concerned. And as to dogging, it is better that I should do that than the police." "Oh, hang your fantastical chatter!" snapped Hench with a lowering brow. "Come to the point." "Can't you see my point now that I have mentioned the police?" "No," said Hench briefly and obstinately. "Curious! You are not usually so dense." Spruce puffed lightly at his cigarette and smiled blandly. "The fact is I am here on behalf of Madame Alpenny." "What has Madame Alpenny to do with me, may I ask?" "Oh, you may ask, and I shall reply with great pleasure. Madame Alpenny has done me the honour to make me her confidential friend, and I am now in possession of all facts connected with your gaining of a large fortune. Most people would be glad to get so much money, but few people would be ready to gain it at so heavy a price." Hench winced inwardly but not outwardly, as he did not intend to show fear in the presence of this little reptile. He saw from the very audacity with which the Nut spoke that he knew all about the matter connected with the death of Madoc Evans, and knew also that the creature had come at this untimely hour to profit by his knowledge. "You speak in riddles," he said coldly. "Oh, I think you can guess them," retorted the other man. "Perhaps I can and perhaps I cannot. But as you hint at mysteries it is for you to explain them. Be as brief as you can. I can't wait up all night listening to your twaddle." "Very bravely carried off, Hench," taunted Spruce, his eyes looking angry. "But such bluff doesn't deceive me. I know too much for you to pretend ignorance." "What you know I am waiting to learn," said Hench, setting his teeth. "Why give me the trouble to explain?" "Stop your fencing and come to the point. You want money?" "A great deal of money. The price of my story is costly." "Really!" said Hench sarcastically. "Well, you were writing a story at Bethnal Green. At least that was the lie you told me to account for your presence in the boarding-house." Spruce laughed, in no wise offended, as his moral perceptions were very much blunted. "I am writing a much better story than I anticipated. I told you that I came to Bethnal Green to find material. Well, I have found material of the best. I shall sell this story for a good price," he concluded, looking meaningly at his listener. "And the price?"