He bowed himself and Melky out; once outside the street-door he drew his companion away towards a part which lay in deep shadow. Some repairing operations to the exterior of a block of houses were going on there; underneath a scaffolding which extended over the sidewalk Ayscough drew Melky to a halt. "You no doubt wondered why I told that chap so much?" he whispered. "Especially about that diamond! But I had my reasons--and particularly for telling him about its value." "It isn't what I should ha' done, Mr. Ayscough," said Melky, "and it didn't ought to come out in the newspapers, neither--so I think! 'Tain't a healthy thing to let the public know there's an eighty-thousand pound diamond loose somewhere in London--and as to telling that slant-eyed fellow in there--" "You wait a bit, my lad!" interrupted Ayscough. "I had my reasons--good 'uns. Now, look here, we're going to watch that door awhile. If the Jap comes out--as I've an idea he will--we're going to follow. And as you're younger, and slimmer, and less conspicuous than I am, if he should emerge, keep on the shadowy side of the street, at a safe distance, and follow him as cleverly as you can. I'll follow you." "What new game's this?" asked Melky. "Never mind!" replied Ayscough. "And, if it does come to following, and he should take a cab, contrive to be near--there's a good many people about, and if you're careful he'll never see you. And--there, now, what did I tell you? He's coming out, now! Be handy--more depends on it than you're aware of." Yada, seen clearly in the moonlight which flooded that side of the street, came out of the door which they had left a few minutes earlier. His smart suit of grey tweed had disappeared under a heavy fur-collared overcoat; a black bowler hat surmounted his somewhat pallid face. He looked neither to right nor left, but walked swiftly up the street in the direction of the Euston Road. And when he had gone some thirty yards, Ayscough pushed Melky before him out of their retreat. "You go first," he whispered, "I'll come after you. Keep an eye on him as far as you can--didn't I tell you he'd come out when we'd left? Be wary!" Melky slipped away up the street on the dark side and continued to track the slim figure quickly advancing in the moonlight. He followed until they had passed the front of the hospital--a few yards further, and Yada suddenly crossed the road in the direction of the Underground Railway. He darted in at the entrance to the City-bound train, and disappeared, and Melky, uncertain what to do, almost danced with excitement until Ayscough came leisurely towards him. "Quick! quick!" exclaimed Melky. "He's gone down there--City trains. He'll be off unless you're on to him!" But Ayscough remained quiescent and calmly relighted his cigar. "All right, my lad," he said. "Let him go--just now. I've seen--what I expected to see!" CHAPTER THIRTY THE MORTUARY