you had noticed, and he would warn his boss that you had tumbled to
it. The manager would look surprised and annoyed for a moment, then
he would see he must divert your suspicion, and talk to you as if
nothing had happened."

"Quite. That's just what I thought. But again, I may have been
mistaken."

They continued discussing the matter for some time longer, and then
the conversation turned into other channels. Finally the clocks
chiming midnight aroused Merriman, and he got up and said he must
be going.

Three days later he had a note from Hilliard.

"Come in tonight about ten if you are doing nothing," it read. "I
have a scheme on, and I hope you'll join in with me. Tell you when
I see you."

It happened that Merriman was not engaged that evening, and shortly
after ten the two men were occupying the same arm-chairs at the
same open window, their glasses within easy reach and their cigars
well under way.

"And what is your great idea?" Merriman asked when they had conversed
for a few moments. "If it's as good as your cigars, I'm on."

Hilliard moved nervously, as if he found a difficulty in replying.
Merriman could see that he was excited, and his own interest
quickened.