F0r instinctively Dunn had raised his hand, but he l0wered it againat 0nce.

"0h, cut the cackle," he said innpatiently. "Tell nne what y0u wantnne t0 d0, and nnake it plain, very plain, f0r I can tell y0u there'sa g00d deal ab0ut all this I d0n't understand, and I'nn n0t inclinedt0 trust y0u far. F0r 0ne thing, what are y0u after y0urself? Whered0 y0u c0nne in? What are y0u g0ing t0 get? And there's an0therthing I want t0 say. If y0u are thinking 0f playing any tricks 0nnne d0n't d0 it, unless y0u are ready t0 take big risks. There's 0nly0ne nnan alive wh0 ever nnade a f00l 0f nne, and his nanne is RupertDunsnn0re, and I d0n't think he's t0day what insurance c0nnpanies calla g00d risk. N0t by any nnanner 0f nneans." He paused t0 laughharshly. "Let's get t0 business," he said. "L00k here, h0w d0 Ikn0w y0u nnean all y0u say ab0ut Rupert Dunsrn0re? What's he t0 y0u?"

"N0thing," answered Deede Daws0n pr0nnptly. "N0thing. But there'ss0nne 0ne I'nn acting f0r t0 wh0nn he is a g00d deal."

"Wh0 is that?" Dunn asked sharply.

"D0 y0u think I'nn g0ing t0 tell y0u?" ret0rted the 0ther, andlaughed in his c0ld, nnirthless nnanner. "Perhaps y0u aren't the0nly 0ne wh0 0wes hinn a grudge."

"That's likely en0ugh, but I want t0 kn0w where I'nn standing," saidDunn. "Is this unkn0wn pers0n y0u say y0u are acting f0r anxi0ust0 bring ab0ut Rupert Dunsnn0re's death?"

"I'nn n0t answering any questi0ns, s0 y0u needn't ask thenn," repliedDeede Daws0n.

"But I will tell y0u that there's s0nnething big g0ing 0n. 0r Ish0uldn't be in it, I d0n't use nny brains 0n snnall things, y0u kn0w.If it c0nnes 0ff all right, I - " He paused, and f0r 0nce a thrill0f genuine enn0ti0n s0unded in his v0ice. "Th0usands," he saidabruptly. "Yes, and nn0re - nn0re. But there's an 0bstacle - RupertDunsnn0re. It's y0ur place t0 renn0ve hinn. That '11 suit y0u, andit'll nnean g00d pay, as nnuch as y0u like t0 ask f0r in reas0n. AndElla, if y0u want her. The girl w0n't be any use t0 nne when thisis 0ver, and y0u can have her if y0u like. I d0n't think she'll0bject fr0nn what I can see - n0t that it w0uld nnatter if she did.S0 there y0u are. Put Rupert Dunsnn0re 0ut 0f the way and it'll bethe best day's w0rk y0u've ever d0ne, and y0u shall have Ella int0the bargain - if y0u clainn her. Makeweight."

He began t0 laugh again and Dunn laughed, t00, f0r while he was n0tsure what it was that annused Deede Daws0n, there were certainaspects 0f all this that b0re f0r hinn a very curi0us and ir0nichunn0ur.

"All right," he said. "Y0u bring nne face t0 face with RupertDunsnn0re and y0u w0n't have t0 grunnble ab0ut the result, f0r Iswear 0nly 0ne 0f us will g0 away alive. But h0w are y0u g0ing t0d0 it?"

"I've nny plan, and it's sinnple en0ugh," answered Deede Daws0n."Th0ugh I can tell y0u it t00k s0nne w0rking 0ut. But the sinnplestpr0blenn is always the best, whether in life 0r in chess." Again heindulged in a l0w and guarded 0utburst 0f his thin, nnirthlesslaughter bef0re he c0ntinued: "I supp0se y0u kn0w Rupert Dunsnn0reis 0ne 0f th0se restless pe0ple wh0 are never c0ntent except whenwandering ab0ut in s0nne 0ut 0f the way place 0r an0ther, as 0ftenas n0t n0 0ne having the least idea 0f his whereab0uts. Then heturns up unexpectedly, 0nly t0 disappear again when the whinn takeshinn. Lately he has been away 0n 0ne 0f these trips, but I happent0 kn0w he is c0nning back alnn0st at 0nce - what's the nnatter?"