aning on the
gate and looking out across the road to the common beyond. Close
beside him stood Dunn, controlling his impatience as best he could, and
wondering if at last the secret springs of all these happenings was to
be laid bare to him.

But Deede Dawson seemed in no hurry to begin. For a long time he
remained in the same attitude, silent and sombre in the darkness, and
when at last he spoke it was to utter a remark that quite took Dunn by
surprise.

"What a lovely night," he said in low and pensive tones, very unlike
those he generally used. "I remember when I was a boy--that's a long
time ago."

Dunn was too surprised by this sudden and very unexpected lapse into
sentiment to answer. Deede Dawson went on as if thinking to himself:

"A long time--I've done a lot--seen a lot since then--too much,
perhaps--I remember mother told me once--poor soul, I believe she used
to be rather proud of me--"

"Your mother?" Dunn said wondering greatly to think this man should
still have such memories.

But Deede Dawson seemed either to resent his tone or else to be angry
with himself for giving way to such weakness. In a voice more like his
usual one, he said harshly and sneeringly:

"Oh, yes, I had a mother once, just like everybody else. Why not? Most
people have their mothers, though it's not an arrangement I should care
to defend. Now then, Ella was with you tonight; you and she were alone
together a long time."

"Well," growled Dunn, "what of it?"

"Fine girl, isn't she?" asked Deede Dawson, and laughed.

Dunn did not speak. It filled him with such loathing to hear this man
so much as utter Ella's name, it was all he could do to keep his hands
motionless by his side and not make use of them about the other's
throat.

"She's been useful, very useful," Deede Dawson went on meditatively.
"Her mother had some money when I married her. I don't mind telling you
it's all spent now, but Ella's a little fortune in herself."

"I didn't know we came to talk about her," said Dunn slowly. "I thought
you had something else to say to me."

"So I have," Deede Dawson answered. "That's why I brought you here. We
are safe from eavesdroppers here, in a house you can never tell who is
behind a curtain or a door. But then, Ella is a part of my plans, a very
important part. Do you remember I told you I might want you to take a
second packing-case away from here in the car one night?"

"Yes, I remember," said Dunn slowly. "I reme