A
second later Harleston entered the corridor. As he was about to greet
Mrs. Clephane, a man approached him and said:
"They have started, sir; Burke's just behind in a taxi--and both drivers
are wise. They're bound for the Rataplan."
"Follow them and wait just outside," Harleston ordered--and turned to
Mrs. Clephane. "I must go to the Rataplan at once," said he. "Let us
lunch there. The end of the affair of the cab of the sleeping horse is
in sight; I thought you might like to see it."
"I want to see it!" Mrs. Clephane exclaimed. "Have you found the
key-word?"
"Carpenter found it--I'll tell you about it on the way out. Come along,
little lady."
* * * * *
"But why do you suspect Captain Snodgrass?" she inquired, when Harleston
had finished his account. "He would not have access to the formula,
would he?"
"The man that has access to such secrets never is the man who actually
delivers," he explained; "he has a confederate. Snodgrass is the
confederate, we think."
"Is this secret colloding process of gun-cotton so tremendously
valuable?" she asked.
"It's a secret for which any nation would give millions of dollars. It's
admittedly the most powerful explosive ever discovered, as well as the
easiest handled.
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