Merriman borrowed his friend's pouch and refilled his pipe in his
turn.

"You think so?" he said slowly. "Well, I'm not so sure. Seems to
me we can very easily dish ourselves if we're not careful."

"How so?"

"We agreed these folk were wide-awake and suspicious of us. Very
well. Directly our visit to them is over, we change our plans and
leave Bordeaux. Will it not strike them that our interest in the
trip was only on their account?"

"I don't see it. We gave a good reason for leaving."

"Quite; that's what I'm coming to. We told them you were recalled
to your office. But what about that man Morton, that was to spy on
us before? What's to prevent them asking him if you really have
returned?"

Hilliard sat up sharply.

"By Jove!" he cried. "I never thought of that."

"And there's another thing," Merriman went on. "We turn up at Hull,
find the syndicate's depot and hang about, the fellow in charge
there sees us. Well, that's all right if he hasn't had a letter
from France describing us and enclosing a copy of that group that
Captain Beamish took at the chateau."