"
He caught me by the arm so violently and looked so fierce that for a
moment I was quite alarmed.
"Drop it, I tell you. Leave the lady alone, both by word and deed.
You'll never find her again, I've seen to that. She has escaped you."
"Aha! You think so? Don't be too cocksure. We understand our
business better than that, we don't go into it single-handed. You've
collared me for a bit, but I'm not the only one in the show."
"The only one that counts," he said sneering.
"Am I?" I answered in the same tone. "What if I had a pal waiting for
me at Basle, who received my instructions there--just when you thought
you had me safe--and has now taken up the running?"
He was perfectly staggered at this, I could see plainly. I thought at
first he would have struck me, he was so much upset.
"You infernal villain," he shouted, "I believe the whole thing is a
confounded lie! Explain."
"I owe you no explanations," I replied stiffly, "my duty is to my
employers. I only account to them for my conduct. I am a confidential
agent."
He seemed impressed by this, for when he spoke again it was more
quietly.
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