"That may be all right for you, but I can't see that the affair is
any business of mine."

"I think it is." Hilliard spoke very quietly. "I think it's your
business and mine - the business of any decent man. There's a chance
that Miss Coburn may be in danger. We should make sure."

Merriman sat up sharply.

"In Heaven's name, what do you mean, Hilliard?" he cried fiercely.
"What possible danger could she be in?"

"Well, suppose there is something wrong - only suppose, I say," as
the other shook his head impatiently. "If there is, it'll be on a
big scale, and therefore the men who run it won't be over squeamish.
Again, if there's anything, Miss Coburn knows about it. Oh, yes,
she does," he repeated as Merriman would have dissented, "there is
your own evidence. But if she knows about some large, shady
undertaking, she undoubtedly may be in both difficulty and danger.
At all events, as long as the chance exists it's up to us to make
sure."

Merriman rose to his feet and began to pace up and down, his head
bent and a frown on his face. Hilliard took no notice of him and
presently he came back and sat down again.

"You may be right," he said. "I'll go with you to find that out,
and that only. But I'll not do any spying."