30 was the scene of his operations, thereby forcing him
to remain inactive through fear of consequences to himself and the
Countess if he undertook to investigate!
He found a letter in his box when he went downstairs, after stuffing
the tin box deep into his pack,--a risky thing to do he realised, but
no longer perilous in the light of developments. It was no longer
probable that his effects would be subjected to inspection by the
police. He walked over to a window to read the letter. Before he slit
the envelope he knew that Sprouse was the writer. The message was
brief.
"After due consideration, I feel that it would be a mistake for you to
abandon your present duties at this time. It might be misunderstood.
Stick to the company until something better turns up. With this
thought in view I withdraw the two days' limit mentioned recently to
you, and extend the time to one week. Yours very truly, J. H. Wilson."
"Gad, the fellow thinks of everything," said Barnes to himself. "He is
positively uncanny."
He read between the lines, and saw there a distinct warning. It had
not occurred to him that his plan to leave for New York that day with
Miss Cameron might be attended by disastrous results.
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