"They've got to catch me yet," growled Mallalieu. "Now then--what about this plan of yours? For I'm going to wait no longer. Either you tell me what you're going to do for me, or I shall walk out o' that door as soon as it's dark tonight and take my chances. D'ye hear that?"
Christopher rose, opened the door, and softly called Miss Pett. And Miss Pett came, took a seat, folded her thin arms, and looked attentively at her learned nephew.
"Yes, sir," said Christopher, resuming the conversation, "I hear that--and we are now ready to explain plans and discuss terms. You will, of course, recompense us, Mr. Mallalieu?"
"I've said all along that you'd not lose by me," retorted Mallalieu. "Aught in reason, I'll pay. But--this plan o' yours? I'm going to know what it is before we come to any question of paying. So out with it!"
"Well, it's an excellent plan," responded Christopher. "You say that you'll be safe if you're set down in a certain part of Norcaster--near the docks. Now that will suit our plans exactly. You're aware, of course, Mr. Mallalieu, that my aunt here is about to remove her goods and chattels--bequeathed by Mr. Kitely, deceased--from this house? Very well--the removal's to take place tomorrow. I have already arranged with Mr. Strawson, furniture remover, to send up a couple of vans tomorrow morning, very early. Into those vans the furniture will be placed, and the vans will convey it to Norcaster, whence they will be transshipped bodily to London, by sea. Mr. Mallalieu--you'll leave here, sir, in one of those vans!"
Mallalieu listened, considered, began to see possibilities.
"Aye!" he said, with a cunning glance. "Aye!--that's not a bad notion. I can see my way in that respect. But--how am I going to get into a van here, and got out of it there, without the vanmen knowing?"
"I've thought it all out," answered Christopher. "You must keep snug in this room until afternoon. We'll get the first van off in the morning--say by noon. I'll so contrive that the second van won't be ready to start until after it's dusk. When it is ready the men'll go down to fetch their horses--I'll give 'em something to get themselves a drink before they come back--that'll delay 'em a bit longer. And while they're away, we'll slip you into the van--and I shall go with that van to Norcaster. And when we get to the shed at Norcaster where the vans are to be left, the two men will go away with their horses--and I shall let you out. It's a good plan, Mr. Mallalieu."