utting
his glass down quickly, he rolled to the door, fingered his hat there
for one moment, put it on awry, and with the oft-repeated statement,
"Oi was priest's boy in Tipperary, bedad," he swayed out of the room.

When he was gone, the others, who had not spoken, turned to me, their
eyes asking for an explanation.

"One of Hall's friends," I said, trying to look unconcerned, "the mate
on the yacht _La France_--the vessel he joins to-day."

Roderick tapped the table with his fingers; Mary was very white, I
thought.

"He knows a queer company," I added, with a grim attempt at jocularity,
"they're almost as rough as he is."

"Do you still mean to sail to-night?" asked Roderick.

"I must; I have made a promise to reach Plymouth without a moment's
delay."

"Then I sail with you," said he, being very wide-awake.

"Oh, but you can't leave Paris; you promised Mary!"

"Yes, and I release him at once," interrupted Mary, the colour coming
and going in her pretty cheeks, "I shall sail from Calais to-night with
you and Roderick."

"It's very kind of you--but--you see----"

"That we mean to come," added Roderick quickly. "Go and pack your
things, Mary; I have something to say to Mark."

We were alone, he and I, but there was between us the first shadow that
had come upon our friendship.

"Well," said he, "how much am I to know?"

"What you choose to learn, and as much as your eyes teach you--it's a
promise, and I've given my word on it."

"I was sure of it. But I don't like it, all the same--I distrust that
fool, who seems to me a perfect madman. He'll drag you into some mess,
if you'll let him. I suppose there's no danger yet, or you wouldn't let
Mary come!"

"There can be no risk now, be quite sure of that--we are going for a
three days' cruise in the Channel, that is all."

"All you care to tell me--well, I can't ask more; what time do you
start?"

"By the club train. I have two hours' work to do yet, but I will meet
you at the station, if you'll bring my bag----"

"Of course--and I can rest for an hour. That always does me good in the
morning."

I left him so, being myself harassed by many thoughts. The talk with
Black's man did not leave me any longer in doubt that Hall had gone to
great risk in setting out with the ruffian's crew; and I resolved that
if by any chance it could be done, I would yet call him back to Paris.
For this I went at once to the office of the Police, and laid as much
of the c