Hilliard whistled.

"Lord! It's not going to be so simple as it looks, is it?"

"It isn't. And what's more, we can't afford to make any mistakes.
It's too dangerous."

Hilliard got up and began to pace the room.


"I don't care," he declared savagely. "I'm going through with it
now no matter what happens."

"Oh, so am I, for the matter of that. All I say is we shall have
to show a bit more intelligence this time."

For an hour more they discussed the matter, and at last decided on
a plan. On the following morning Hilliard was to go to his office,
see his chief and ask for an extension of leave, then hang about
and interview as many of his colleagues as possible, telling them
he had been recalled, but was not now required. His chief was not
very approachable, and Hilliard felt sure the subject would not be
broached to him. In the evening they would go down to Hull.

This program they would have carried out, but for an unforeseen
event. While Hilliard was visiting his office Merriman took the
opportunity to call at his, and there learned that Edwards, his
partner, had been taken ill the morning before. It appeared there
was nothing seriously wrong, and Edwards expected to be back at