We ought not to be seen speaking together, and that's where that cipher business that old Fletcher invented will come in jolly useful.

We can say anything we want to without appearing to meet." "By-the-bye," interrupted Noaks, "what became of that last note?
Mouler told me about it, or I shouldn't have come.

Some one had taken it away before I went to look." "Perhaps it was Gull," answered Thurston.

"Where is he ?" "He's got some turned work to do," answered Hawley.
"Mouler's outside keeping _cave_" added Noaks.

"We thought it would be well for some one to keep a look-out in case anybody came." "Well, what I was going to say," continued Thurston, "is, that for the present we'd better lie low, and not be seen going about together.
It was a good thing Gull and I managed to turn the tables on Oaks at that inquiry; it would have been jolly awkward for the rest of you to have proved an _alibi_.