Then there came the old blankness, and he saw nothing but what seemed to him the face of a satyr--dark and evil--mocking him through the shadows which had surely fallen now for ever.

Da Souza lifted him up and conveyed him carefully to a four-wheel cab.
* * * * * An hour afterwards Da Souza, with a grin of content upon his unshapely mouth, exchanged his frock coat for a gaudy smoking-jacket, and, with a freshly-lit cigar in his mouth, took up the letters which had arrived by the evening post.

Seeing amongst them one with an African stamp he tore it open hastily, and read:-- "MY DEAR HIRAM,--You was in luck now or never, if you really want to stop that half--witted creature from doing mischief in London.

I sometimes think, my brother, that you would do better to give me even more of your confidence.

You are a very clever man, but you do keep yourself so secret.