The Secret Adversary

would carry him yet farther. He quietly passed into the house and mounted the ramshackle staircase. Everything in the house was filthy beyo

man below disappear into a back room. Clearly no suspicion attached to him as yet. To come t

ately on his right, half concealed by a torn velvet curtain. It was directly opposite the left-handed door and, owing to its angle, it also commanded a good view of the upper part of the staircase. As a hiding-place for one or, at a pinch, two men, it was ideal, being about two feet deep and three feet wide. It attracted To

. The doorkeeper clearly did not know all the members of the gang by sight, but it might be different upstairs. On the whole it seemed to him that luck had served him very well so far, but that there was such a thing as trusting i

curtain farther across so that it shielded him completely from sight. There were several rents and slits in the ancient material which afforded hi

ly of the very dregs of society. The low beetling brows, and the criminal jaw, the bestiality of the whole cou

momentary glimpse of the room inside. He thought there must be about four or five people seated round a long table that took up most of the space, but his attention was caught and held by a tall man with close-cropped hair and a sh

umber,

or," replied the

rre

or shu

matically too-as they always do. Lucky I didn't roll in. I'd have given the wrong number, and th

ation was a far-reaching concern. The common criminal, the well-bred Irish gentleman, the pale Russian, and the efficient German master of the c

the same. The signal knock, the demand

Tommy, who put him down as a city clerk. A quiet, intelligent-looking man, rather shabbily dre

sitely dressed, and evidently well born. His face, again, was not unkno

he gathering was now complete, and was just cautiously creeping out fro

ly that he was almost abreast of Tommy befo

ecess, he turned his head slowly. The strange light eyes seemed to burn through the curtain; Tommy could hardly believe that the man did not know he was there and in spite of himself he shivered. He was

had done, but his reception was very different. The bearded man rose to his feet, and all t

are greatly honoured. I much fea

a low voice that had

n, I fear. But one meeting is essential-to define my p

voice was audible as he rep

to be present in person." He stopped, giving a curio

face of the other. He looked ro

ll the same, it is possible that he is among us now...." He looked round him again, and again

an tapped

. Let us

ted the place he had been occupying at the head of th

e said, "for-Number One. Perhaps N

sunk once more to a mere undistinguishable murmur. Tommy became restive. The conversation he h

as deserted. Tommy bent down and removed his shoes, then, leaving them behind the curtain, he walked gingerly out on his stockinged feet, and kneeling down by the closed door he laid his ear ca

ce nothing? He decided that with great care it could be done. Very slowly, a fraction of an inch at a time, he moved it round, holdin

rce, it would almost certainly creak. He waited until the voices rose a little, then he tried again. Still nothing happened. He increased the pressure. Had the beastly th

Tommy's indignation

d!" he said. "Wh

to notice it, so, with the same infinite pains, he reversed his former tactics. All went well, and with a sigh of relief the young man rose to his feet. There was a certain bulldog tenacity about Tommy that made

s a second door. He slipped silently along to it. He listened for a mo

Like everything else in the house, the furniture was falli

s shot across it. It was very rusty, and had clearly not been used for some time. By gently wriggling it to and fro, Tommy managed to draw it back without making too much noise. Then he repeated his former man?uvres with the handle-this time with complete suc

eaking. His rich Irish

ut more money is essenti

mmy rather thought was

antee that the

ill guarantee you such a reign of terror in Ireland

hen came the soft, sibil

e the money. Boris,

sked a

ericans, and Mr.

point out, here and now, that things are getting a mite difficult. There's not the sympathy there was,

had shrugged his sho

the money only nominall

ition," said the Sinn Feiner. "The money is conve

at of the tall, commanding-looking man wh

ngs of Belfast if t

w, in the matter of the loan to an English newspaper,

hink

denial from Moscow will b

en the clear voice of the

the different unions before you. That of the miners is most satisfacto

papers and an occasional word of explanation from the German. Th

my friend?" s

e 2

n seemed t

s rathe

leaders, and we cannot seem to interfere too much.

ghed softly, as

heir value to us. It is curious-but you cannot make a revolution without honest men. The instinct of the populace is infallible." He pau

inister note

rman r

oo far-seeing. Number Fo

s a hoar

" And then after a moment o

rman quietly. "But in any case you will wear gloves fitted with the

run with blood, so they say." He spoke with a grim relish. "Dreams of it, sometimes

ir shifted. Then

anged. We are as

erman spoke with less t

e held suddenly a

as gone

ing;

t w

u say, we can do nothing. If they do not

ould th

we've done to discredit the Government in their eyes, I'm not

ut

he whole, public opinion swings to the side o

n's fingers drum

understand that there was a certain doc

iate. They would publish it broadcast throughout England, and declare for the revolutio

t more do

tself," said th

ur possession? But y

N

ne know wh

s. And we are not

this p

gir

eld his

uously. "And you have not made her speak? I

ferent," said the

d a moment, then went on:

e g

es

e i

rashing blow descended on hi