“You, Walter,” he exclaimed.  “That’s good!  But how did you get here?  And how did you know where I was?”

The new-comer drew a little nearer and showed the tall, thin form of Walter Dunsmore to whom Dunn had spoken at Wreste Abbey.

“I had to come,” he murmured.  “I couldn’t rest without seeing you.  You upset me the other day, saying what you did.  Isn’t it very dangerous your being here?  Suppose Deede Dawson—­”

“Oh, if he suspected, there would soon be an end of me,” answered Dunn grimly.  “But I think I’m going to win—­at least, I did till tonight.”

“What’s happened?” the other asked sharply and anxiously.

“He has been telling me his plans,” answered Dunn.  “He has told me everything—­he has put himself entirely in my power—­he has done what I have been waiting and hoping for ever since I came here.  He has given me his full confidence at last, and I never felt more uneasy or less certain of success than I do at this moment.”

“He has told you—­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.”