I had been engaged in far more
complicated transactions before. I was convinced that I could
manage it, with the help of Rocco and Em - and Miss Spencer.'
'Is that woman your wife?'
'She would like to be,' he sneered. 'Please don't interrupt. I had
completed my arrangements, when you so inconsiderately bought
the hotel. I don't mind admitting now that from the very moment
when you came across me that night in the corridor I was secretly
afraid of you, though I scarcely admitted the fact even to myself
then. I thought it safer to shift the scene of our operations to
Ostend. I had meant to deal with Prince Eugen in this hotel, but I
decided, then, to intercept him on the Continent, and I despatched
Miss Spencer with some instructions. Troubles never come singly,
and it happened that just then that fool Dimmock, who had been in
the swim with us, chose to prove refractory. The slightest hitch
would have upset everything, and I was obliged to - to clear him
off the scene. He wanted to back out - he had a bad attack of
conscience, and violent measures were essential. I regret his
untimely decease, but he brought it on himself. Well, everything
was going serenely when you and your brilliant daughter,
apparently determined to meddle, turned up again among us at
Ostend. Only twenty-four hours, however, had to elapse before the
date which had been mentioned to me by my employers.
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