Page:The Death-Doctor.djvu/177

Rh about to try and get more information as to my affairs; but to no avail.

I was too careful.

"What about a holiday, Anderson?" I asked him about six months after he came to me. "Things are very slack; don't you want to go and see your people?" I was trying to get information, because I wanted to know whom I should have to deal with when he was taken ill.

He looked up at me, a sharp, keen glance, and then, turning away, said, "My people are dead, except one brother. He's an advocate in Edinburgh, and doesn't want me about."

"Then you don't want to go away?"

"Thank you very much, no."

He was a smart young man this; I felt that he suspected some motive in my question, but of course could not tell what.

The opportunity for disposing of the blackmailing lady came before long. For some weeks she had been bothering me to make our engagement known, which was the last thing I wanted; consequently my presents of brandy and champagne had become more frequent, but had made sad inroads into my scanty store of ready money, and it was with great joy that I welcomed a message one evening to go to