In ten minutes, Alan Hawke
disappeared into the railway waiting-room, and returned after a
visit to the luggage store-room. Jack Blunt was astonished at his
pal's evident distrust. "Here you are, Jack," the Major cordially
cried, as they sought the rear room of the neat cafe opposite the
gare. "Now, count over your five hundred pounds. I'll give Garcin
the other sum in your presence. Then, I suppose that I am safe," he
coldly smiled. "Tell me now where has old Fraser hidden the stuff."
"In his study on the first floor, in a secret hiding place. The
girl Mattie has watched the old fellow through the keyhole. I know
just where to easily break in on the ground floor. These damned
Hindus are far away in the other wing, so there's only Simpson to
hinder. Now, I'll have a couple of the boys pipe him off at the
Jersey Arms. Old Janet Fairbarn's strait-laced ways make him sneak
out late at night for his toddy. When he is 'well loaded' and tired
with climbing up the cliff, they will follow him and fix him, for
good. One of the boys will come along with me, to my hiding place,
and be 'outside fence' while the two others will watch the road
and the gardener's quarters. The three men are two hundred yards
away, in the porter's lodge. The old Scotch woman sleeps like a
post. Then I make my way when I've done, at once to the Hirondelle,
alone and hide my plant. The men relieved can rally on your party
at the old martello tower, and so we will be ready to sail when
your part of the job is done.
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