In Strange Company

et of where Veneda lay, his first idea was to find out if he had received any injury from hi

that by clutching at the parapet he had in some measure broken his fall. But though he searched diligently all rou

ile the conflagration was still proceeding, with unabated violence, only a few steps further along the street. Why he had not been killed by

. In spite of his recent adventures he had not forgotten his appointment with Vargas at the house of the fugitive English banker; and, as he hurried along, he reflected with a chuckle that if, as in all human probability was the case, Veneda had perished with the falling house, then would there be one less wi

Without a word they proceeded to the house, a ramshackle, old adobe structure of one storey, with a broad ve

they were joined by two other me

himself to the taller of the twain, "what

sign of him this week past, a

ear out of this country for ever. I promise you, y

remarked the man wh

nt your money before we've seen how you've done your work! Cl

t our money now," reiterated the man; "a

towards him, he whispered a sentence in his ear, with the result that next moment

ed to Vargas

the old word after all. Now co

t the back. Once there only a low wall separated them from the other house. With an agility surprising in one so deformed, the Albino mounted it, and dropped on to the other side; Vargas followed him, and together

were able to approach it without hesitation or delay. On reaching the room they paused to listen, at the same time taking the precaution of ex

own at the further end. On seeing them he stopped hi

must excuse the unprepared state of my surroundings; but I've only moved in here while m

ked Vargas, who had no

staring mad!" re

wine put in ice. By the way, I don't think you told me your business

that money-the Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand you swindled the Kamtchatka Bank out of.

continued to

ili to invest on the Bank's behalf. One evening, I was sitting in my room in the Calle de San Pedro, when a singularly handsome man called to see me. 'Mr. Bradshaw,' said he, 'I'm sorry to trouble you, bu

throat. "That be hanged for a tale. It's only one of your damned dodge

d the unfortunate banker, half stran

o withdre

at was i

ourse I did not ask, but he allowed it to slip from him in his excitem

eneda, you thieving traitorous hound, by God, if this be true it

whose rage was absurdly theatrical. He danced and swore, t

possible, and if it's not here, find Veneda without a moment's delay. Now we se

sure stolen. The Albino's rage surpassed description; he vowed such vengeance against the traitor that even Vargas was overwhelmed with terror. Suddenly they l

ollect every man we can lay our hands on, and search the town unt