"That's exactly what I was thinking," returned Casteno, "but it is not so easy to do as it seems. For one thing, Zouche would not let us act in the capacity of his guardians if he knew we had any aspirations at all for that office. Another thing--where can we hide ourselves? And then," he added after a significant pause, "I wanted you to be busy on another mission. I had a particular reason for wishing that you should go down to Southampton to-morrow afternoon, when the royal mail steamer _Atrato_ is expected. A lady whom I want you to meet is coming by that boat. As a matter of fact, she is bringing certain valuable documents for me and for the Order of St Bruno, and she will need all the protection you can give her between the Solent and the Thames if she isn't kidnapped by some friends of Fotheringay, who, when he was in Mexico, learnt all about her treasures." "In that case you must watch the hunchback," I said decisively, "whilst I run down from Waterloo to Southampton. The whole business won't take me more than ten hours from London to dock and dock to London." "But how on earth shall I watch Zouche? How shall I gain admission to his shop without his knowledge? And where can I hide myself without any undue risk of being found out?" "A house like his, full of the most extraordinary curiosities, is the best hiding-place one could have," I replied. "The only trouble is to get inside it, but I am sure if I go with you and help you, and we watch our chance, say whilst his man is taking down the shutters, we can both slip in and run up to the first-floor showroom, which is over the parlour. Once there I will help you to conceal yourself, and also open up for you a peep-hole in the ceiling of the room where the hunchback does his research work, without the slightest fear you will be pounced on. Why, old curiosity shops in London are never disturbed or dusted! Dust is part of the stock-in-trade. Most dealers seem perfectly satisfied if they sell one thing out of each room per week--and often that one thing may be merely a miniature or a coin!" "All right, I'll leave the arrangements with you," answered the Spaniard, with a laugh. "For the present, however, the most important thing for you at least seems to be sleep. I propose, therefore, that before we make another move of any kind you turn in and get a few hours' sleep whilst I mount guard." "Yes, I'm tired," I admitted, with a half-smothered yawn; "and, after all, we can do nothing at the hunchback's until about nine o'clock, so I think I will do as you suggest." And placing some more coal on the fire I wished him good-night and made my way to my adjacent bedroom, where, throwing myself on the sofa, I closed my eyes and endeavoured to push myself off into a soft, dreamless slumber.