"Yes; that's right, enemies. But till then, let us act together,
and not try and ruin each other. All the same, I promise you
to keep to myself all that I can see--"

"And I, all that I can hear."

"Is that agreed?"

"It is agreed."

"Your hand?"

"Here it is." And the hand of the first speaker, that is to say,
five wide-open fingers, vigorously shook the two fingers coolly
extended by the other.

"By the bye," said the first, "I was able this morning to telegraph
the very words of the order to my cousin at seventeen minutes past ten."

"And I sent it to the Daily Telegraph at thirteen minutes past ten."

"Bravo, Mr. Blount!"

"Very good, M. Jolivet."

"I will try and match that!"

"It will be difficult."