he old gentleman could scarcely
refuse me a meal, and I fell to reconstructing my breakfast. Bacon and
eggs would content me, but I wanted the better part of a flitch of
bacon and half a hundred eggs. And then, while my mouth was watering
in anticipation, there was a click and the door stood open.

I emerged into the sunlight to find the master of the house sitting in
a deep armchair in the room he called his study, and regarding me with
curious eyes.

'Have they gone?' I asked.

'They have gone. I convinced them that you had crossed the hill. I do
not choose that the police should come between me and one whom I am
delighted to honour. This is a lucky morning for you, Mr Richard
Hannay.'

As he spoke his eyelids seemed to tremble and to fall a little over his
keen grey eyes. In a flash the phrase of Scudder's came back to me,
when he had described the man he most dreaded in the world. He had
said that he 'could hood his eyes like a hawk'. Then I saw that I had
walked straight into the enemy's headquarters.

My first impulse was to throttle the old ruffian and make for the open
air. He seemed to anticipate my intention, for he smiled gently, and
nodded to the door behind me.

I turned, and saw two men-servants who had me covered with pistols.

He knew my name, but he had never seen me before. And as the
reflection darted across my mind I saw a slender chance.

'I don't know what you mean,' I said roughly. 'And who are you calling
Richard Hannay? My name's Ainslie.'

'So?' he said, still smiling. 'But of course you have others. We
won't quarrel about a name.'

I was pulling myself together now, and I reflected that my garb,
lacking coat and waistcoat and collar, would at any rate not betray me.
I put on my surliest face and shrugged my shoulders.

'I suppose you're going to give me up after all, and I call it a damned
dirty trick. My God, I wish I had never seen that cursed motor-car!
Here's the money and be damned to you,' and I flung four sovereigns on
the table.

He opened his eyes a little. 'Oh no, I shall not give you up. My
friends and I will have a little private settlement with you, that is
all. You know a little too much, Mr Hannay. You are a clever actor,
but not quite clever enough.'

He spoke with assurance, but I could see the dawning of a doubt in his
mind.

'Oh, for God's sake stop jawing,' I cried. 'Everything's against me.
I haven't had a bit of luck since I came on