yes.

His eyes searched me still, but he approached me with a curiously polite
smile.

"No, Mr. Brett," he said, "my name is not Richardson, and I am not a
bookbinder. Not that I am particular about such a thing as a name, for
you have heard of me under more than one already, and you are quite at
liberty to call me Richardson if you like. I am sorry to have to talk to
you in this uncomfortable place, but the circumstances are exceptional.
But, at least, I should give you a chair."

He stepped back a little way and pressed a bell-button. Presently the
fellow who had decoyed me there appeared, and Mayes ordered him to
bring me a chair at once, which he did, with stolid obedience. I sat in
it, so that my wrist rested at somewhere near the level of my shoulder.

"Mr. Brett," Mayes pursued, when his man was gone, "I am not so
implacable a person as you perhaps believe me; in fact, I can assure you
that my disposition is most friendly."

"Then unfasten this handcuff," I said.

"I am sorry that that is a little precaution I find it necessary to take
till we understand each other better. I am glad to see you, Mr. Brett,
though I am sure you will not think me rude if I say that I should have
preferred Mr. Martin Hewitt in your place. But perhaps his turn will
come later. I have a proposition to make, Mr. Brett. I should like you
to join me."

"To join you?"

"Exactly." He nodded pleasantly. "You needn't shrink; I shan't ask you
to do anything vulgar, or even anything that, with your present
prejudices, you might consider actively criminal. You can help me, you
see, in your own profession as a journalist; and in other ways. And my
enterprise is greater than you may imagine. Join me, and you shall be
a great man in an entirely new sphere. A small matter of initiation is
necessary, and that is all. You have only to consent to that."

I said nothing.

"You seem reluctant. Well, perhaps it is natural, in your present
ignorance. This is no vulgar criminal organisation that I have,
understand. I have taken certain measures to provide myself with the
necessary tools in the shape of money, and so forth, but my aims are
larger than you suspect--perhaps larger than you can understand. And
I work with a means more wonderful than you have experience of. For
instance, here is to-day's work. You know about the lost Naval Code, of
course--it is what you came about. That document is now lying in the
desk you stood by in the room whe