“Rather shoves the breeze up me,” said another. “He seems to know something. I like Bellamy, and I’ll apologise to him for taking his name in vain when I see him next. But that bastard Clinton!----” * * * * * “It will have to be soon,” said Mr. Solan. “I heard to-day that he will be given notice to quit any day now. Are you prepared to go through with it?” “He’s the Devil incarnate,” said Bellamy. “If you knew what I’d been through in the last month!” “I have a shrewd idea of it,” replied Mr. Solan. “You think he trusts you completely?” “I don’t think he has any opinion of me at all, except that I lend him money whenever he wants it. Of course, I’ll go through with it. Let it be Friday night. What must I do? Tell me exactly. I know that but for you I should have chucked my hand in long ago.” “My dear Bellamy, you have done marvellously well, and you will finish the business as resolutely as you have carried it through so far. Well, this is what you must do. Memorise it flawlessly.” * * * * * “I will arrange it that we arrive at his rooms just about eleven o’clock. I will ring up five minutes before we leave.” “I shall be doing my part,” said Mr. Solan. Clinton was in high spirits at the Café Royal on Friday evening. “I like you, my dear Bellamy,” he observed, “not merely because you have a refined taste in pornography and have lent me a good deal of money, but for a more subtle reason. You remember when we first met I was puzzled by you. Well, I still am. There is some psychic power surrounding you. I don’t mean that you are conscious of it, but there is some very powerful influence working for you. Great friends though we are, I sometimes feel that this power is hostile to myself. Anyhow, we have had many pleasant times together.” “And,” replied Bellamy, “I hope we shall have many more. It has certainly been a tremendous privilege to have been permitted to enjoy so much of your company. As for that mysterious power you refer to, I am entirely unconscious of it, and as for hostility--well, I hope I’ve convinced you during the last month that I’m not exactly your enemy.” “You have, my dear fellow,” replied Clinton. “You have been a charming and generous companion. All the same, there is an enigmatic side to you. What shall we do to-night?” “Whatever you please,” said Bellamy. “I suggest we go round to my rooms,” said Clinton, “bearing a bottle of whisky, and that I show you another little experiment. You are now sufficiently trained to make it a success.” “Just what I should have hoped for,” replied Bellamy enthusiastically. “I will order the whisky now.” He went out of the grill-room for a moment and had a few words with Mr. Solan over the telephone. And then he returned, paid the bill, and they drove off together.