Evening star., 1936-12-20
Mosozins Section

night. HE hopes Monsieur Will amuse
himself here until then"
Melville was quite certain he would
be able to amuse himself until dinner
time. He sat in the pleasant loggia,
looking down upon the roofs of the
town, with the English Channel spread
out before him. limpid blue-green
in the afternoon sunlight. His thoughts
began straying into the immediate
future. Where would he have been at
this moment, he wondered. without
the help of DR.. Fechner? BY leaving
the boat train, he felt confident he
had eluded Cesare GRATIS people.
But what if they learned in the course
of their inquiries that DR.. Fechner
had rented this villa in Dieppe for the
summer? They might come to the
conclusion that this was the place of
rendezvous - and that his booking
through to Paris was a mere blind.
As darkness fell. and the lights of
the town began to glimmer down be-
low, Melville paced restlessly back
and forward. 1t wasn't 50 much his
own safety that worried him: it was
DR.. Fechner's. 1T would be pity"
Valerie had said. IF some unpleasant
accident happened to him."
And Cesare Gratz knew he was to
have travelled by air to Paris that
afternoon! Melville repressed shiver.
With the darkness. there fell a
silence that was almost eerie. Melville
could trace the glow of illumination
along the esplanade; and the tall
windows of the Casino were ablaze.
Several yachts lay out from the beach.
their riding lights burning steadfast.
He could pick out IrelGnds from its
position little south of the others;
the manservant had indicated it be-
fore darkness had fallen - graceful
white craft. with a raked funnel and
high forepeak. Richard had been as
tonished at the luxury which her size
suggested. If all went we'll. he would
be on board the vessel by breakfast
time, heading down channel towards
the coast of Cornwall
1t was with relief that he heard the
wheels Of a motor car crunching on
the gravel, and few minutes later
DIR. Fechner was at his side.
Everything all right. MIR. Mel
vile? hope you haven't been bored"
"Bored! Richard laughed. and the
sound Of his own voice seemed oddly
strained. Worse than that. I've been
devilish worried. Valerie Renard was
on the Channel boat and spoke to me.
If you give me any further help. she
said. Cesare Gratz will have an ac-
count to settle with you"
so they're extending their threats
to me?" said DIR. Fechner.
Il don't like it" Richard was seri-
Gus. ITS unfair that you should be
mixed up in this. I've been thinking
l ought to clear out right away"
Fechner's eyes flashed. IF Cesare
Gratz thinks he can scare me off by
threats, he's mistaken. There's moth
ing to worry about. BY tomorrow
morning. we'll both be out of his
reach" He spoke confidently, but
Richard wondered if there wasn't a
note of apprehension in his tone as he
inquired: How did you manage to
give them the slip?"
He listened with interest, and seemed
in a cheerful mood during dinner.
After coffee and cigars had been
placed on the table. and the man.
servant had left the dining room
Melville decided to take his host more
closely into his confidence.
II feel I ought to tell you the real
reason why I came to England" he
said. 1T wasn't holiday trip. was
sent over to consult with John
Spencer Brydon. The War Depart
ment want his report before they put
into manufacture the new well,
let's call it a new substance I've dis
-4,,o~>J A., t1ll ,,1,, TS,,n Laox,