'Tell me one thing,' I said. 'Is it a really big thing we're after?'

'A - really - big - thing,' she said slowly and very gravely. 'You
and I and some hundred others are hunting the most dangerous
man in all the world. Till we succeed everything that Britain does is
crippled. If we fail or succeed too late the Allies may never win the
victory which is their right. I will tell you one thing to cheer you.
It is in some sort a race against time, so your purgatory won't
endure too long.'

I was bound to obey, and she knew it, for she took my willingness
for granted.

From a little gold satchel she selected a tiny box, and opening it
extracted a thing like a purple wafer with a white St Andrew's
Cross on it.

'What kind of watch have you? Ah, a hunter. Paste that inside
the lid. Some day you may be called on to show it ... One other
thing. Buy tomorrow a copy of the _Pilgrim's _Progress and get it by
heart. You will receive letters and messages some day and the style
of our friends is apt to be reminiscent of John Bunyan ... The car
will be at the door tomorrow to catch the ten-thirty, and I will give
you the address of the rooms that have been taken for you ...
Beyond that I have nothing to say, except to beg you to play the
part well and keep your temper. You behaved very nicely at dinner.'

I asked one last question as we said good night in the hall. 'Shall
I see you again?'