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Friar.
    “I see. Well, now I’ve arrangements to make, so I must get back to the castle. I think it would be a mistake for us to meet again.”
    “The mistake will be made, Captain Mansel.”
    “As you please. It’s now three o’clock. If your cars are still here at five, they’ll be taken off the estate and wrecked for good.”
    With that, he turned on his heel and I followed him down the drive, with the firearms which I had taken still in my hands.
    We walked as far as the fork, where one road led on to the castle and the other, up which we had come, to the foot of the postern-steps. And there we concealed the pistols and waited to see that the rogues would do as we said.
    Five minutes later, Sloper and Goat arrived – and, having turned the corner, sat down on the bank and lighted their cigarettes.
    “Gorblime, said Goat. “’E can’ put this acrost me. Did you ever see such a — in all your life?”
    “Give ’im a chance,” said Sloper. “Them jools is worf all Bon’ Street – an’ then some more. Can’ expec’ roses all the way.”
    “Roses?” spat Goat. “ Roses ? Bunch o’ red-’ot barb wire, if you ask me. Be yer age, Sloper. Led daown the garding path–”
    “’E’s bin double-cross,” said Sloper. “That Palin’s a dirty —. Arms roun’ ’is neck – an’ wirin’ reports to Mansel every night.”
    “See ’ere,” said Goat. “If I fall down, there aren’t no excuses for me. Well, ’e’s fell down, good an’ proper. Danced bung into the muck. An’ more. ’Ad ’is nose rubbed in it, Sloper… Well, wot’s sauce for the — gander’s — well sauce for the goose. I’ve lorsse me confidence. Mansel’s the better man.”
    “It does look like it,” said Friar. The others started to their feet. “And yet I’ve a feeling that I shall have those gems. You see, they’re worth having: and when I want something worth having I usually get it before the end of the match. Palin fooled me, of course. He put up a beautiful show. I could have sworn he was simple. But now I know where I am. And that is back where we started. Well, be it so. Mansel is here, of course, to get those jewels out. I shall let him get them out – of the chamber . That will save us a lot of wearisome work. And when they are out of the chamber… Those gems are worth two million – two million pounds. And that’s rock bottom. I don’t think I can let Mansel in on a thing like that. No, I think we shall have to have them… Sloper, back to the Lowland, and pull your weight. Goat with me. We’re going to move that ladder – you never know.”
    With that, he made for the meadows, and Goat fell in behind: but Sloper turned and went back the way he had come.
    Mansel and I followed Sloper for two or three hundred yards: then we left the road and took to the woods, to come out on the main highway in a quarter of an hour.
    As we turned to the left—
    “Ignorance,” said Mansel, “is bliss. If Friar knew what we knew, the knowledge would shorten his life. Honestly, it was a very near thing. And we have emerged triumphant. We have compelled a respect which we in no way deserve.”
    “You’ve shaken his fellows,” said I.
    “Goat, yes,” said Mansel. “But Friar will deal with him. That’s what he followed them for.”
    “How,” said I, “did he know that you were in on this show?”
    “Ferrers must have been watched,” said Mansel. “And when my name was mentioned, Punter filled in the gaps.”
    That that was the explanation, I have no doubt: for Punter had good reason to know what Mansel could do. And Friar’s recognition of Mansel’s masterly ways shows, I think, what the man had been led to expect.
    “What line will he take?” said I.
    “I wish I knew,” said Mansel. “Of course he’ll do as he said and let us unearth the gems. It sounds very fine, but he can’t do anything else. But how will he prevent us from taking them out? I mean, he can’t watch the castle by day and