I think he was the bravest man in the world, for he was
always shivering with fright, and yet nothing would choke him off.
I had a letter from him on the 31st of May.'
'But he had been dead a week by then.'
'The letter was written and posted on the 23rd. He evidently did
not anticipate an immediate decease. His communications usually
took a week to reach me, for they were sent under cover to Spain
and then to Newcastle. He had a mania, you know, for concealing
his tracks.'
'What did he say?' I stammered.
'Nothing. Merely that he was in danger, but had found shelter
with a good friend, and that I would hear from him before the 15th
of June. He gave me no address, but said he was living near
Portland Place. I think his object was to clear you if anything
happened. When I got it I went to Scotland Yard, went over the
details of the inquest, and concluded that you were the friend. We
made inquiries about you, Mr Hannay, and found you were respectable.
I thought I knew the motives for your disappearance--not
only the police, the other one too--and when I got Harry's scrawl I
guessed at the rest. I have been expecting you any time this past week.'
You can imagine what a load this took off my mind. I felt a free
man once more, for I was now up against my country's enemies
only, and not my country's law.
'Now let us have the little note-book,' said Sir Walter.
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