u--everything?" Walter Dunsmore asked. "Everything,
except who is behind it all," answered Dunn. "I asked him who he was
acting for, and he refused to say. But we shall know that tomorrow,
for he told me something almost as good--he told me where this employer
would be at four o'clock tomorrow afternoon. So then we shall have him,
unless Deede Dawson was lying."

"Of course, it all depends on finding that out," remarked Walter
thoughtfully. "Finding out his identity."

"Yes, that's the key move to the problem," Dunn said. "And tomorrow we
shall know it, if Deede Dawson was speaking the truth just now."

"I should think he was," said Walter slowly. "I should think it is
certain he was. You may depend on that, I think."

"I think so, too," agreed Dunn. "But how did you find out where I was?"

"You know that day you came to Wreste Abbey? There was some fellow you
had with you who told the landlord of the Chobham Arms, so I easily
found out from him," answered Walter.

"Anyhow, I'm glad you're here," Dunn said. "I was wondering how to get
in touch with you. Well, this is Deede Dawson's plan in brief. Tomorrow,
at four in the afternoon, Rupert Dunsmore is to be killed--and I've
undertaken to do the deed."

"What do you mean?" exclaimed Walter, starting.

"I've promised that if Deede Dawson will bring me face to face with
Rupert Dunsmore, I'll murder him," answered Dunn, laughing softly.

"A fairly safe offer on your part, isn't it?" observed Walter. "At
least, unless there's any saving clause about mirrors."

"Oh, none," answered Dunn. "I told Deede Dawson Rupert Dunsmore was my
worst enemy, and that's true enough, for I think every man's worst enemy
is himself."

"I wish I had none worse," muttered Walter.

"I think you haven't, old chap," Dunn said smilingly. "But come across
the road. It'll be safer on the common. Deede Dawson is so cunning
one is never safe from him. One can never be sure he isn't creeping up
behind."

"Well, I daresay it's wise to take every precaution," observed Walter.
"But I can't imagine either him or any one else getting near you without
your knowledge."

Robert Dunn,--or rather, Rupert Dunsmore, as was his name by right of
birth--laughed again to himself, very softly in the darkness.

"Perhaps not," he said. "But I take no chances I can avoid with Deede
Dawson. Come along."

They crossed the road together and sat down on the common at an open
spot, where none could well approac