I
prepared to come when--he--"
Nicol Brinn's clasp of Naida tightened cruelly.
"Oh, you hurt me!" she moaned. "Please let me speak. He gave me
your name and told me to bring you!"
"What! What!"
Nicol Brinn dropped his arms and stood, as a man amazed, watching
her.
"Last night there was a meeting outside London."
"You don't want me to believe there are English members?"
"Yes. There are. Many. But let me go on. Somehow--somehow I don't
understand--he finds you are one--"
"My God!"
"And you are not present last night! Now, do you understand? So
he sends me to tell you that a car will be waiting at nine
o'clock to-night outside the Cavalry Club. The driver will be a
Hindu. You know what to say. Oh, my Nicol, my Nicol, go for my
sake! You know it all! You are clever. You can pretend. You can
explain you had no call. If you refuse--"
Nicol Brinn nodded grimly. "I understand! But, good God! How has
he found out? How has he found out?"
"I don't know!" moaned Naida. "Oh, I am frightened--so
frightened!"
A discreet rap sounded upon the door.
Nicol Brinn crossed and stood, hands clasped behind him, before
the mantelpiece. "In," he said.
Hoskins entered. "Detective Sergeant Stokes wishes to see you at
once, sir."
Brinn drew a watch from his waistcoat pocket. Attached to it was
a fob from which depended a little Chinese Buddha. He consulted
the timepiece and returned it to his pocket.
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