“Well,” he said, “so this is how you keep your promise!”

“Something has happened since then,” I answered.  “I have received a cable from my brother which we do not understand.”

“A cable from your brother in Brazil?” he asked slowly.

“Yes!” I answered.

Delora turned slowly in his chair and rose to his feet.  He was tall and gaunt.  His face was lined.  He had somehow or other the appearance of a man who is driven to bay.  Yet there was something splendid about the way he nerved himself to listen to me with indifference.

“What does he say—­your brother?”

“The cable is inspired by Nicholas Delora,” I answered.  “Listen, and I will read it to you.”

I read it to him word by word.  When I had finished he simply nodded.

“Is that all?” he asked.

“That is all,” I answered.  “You will see that what makes your brother anxious is that not only have you failed to keep your word so far as regards communicating with him, but you have not made use of a certain private code arranged between you.”

“The business upon which I am engaged,” Delora said calmly, “is of great importance, but I do not care to be rushing all the time to the telegraph office.  Nicholas is a nervous person.  In a case like this he should be content to wait.  However, since he has sought the interference of outsiders, I will cable him to-morrow morning.”

“Very well,” I answered.  “I can ask no more than that.  I shall go myself to the cable office and send my brother a message.”

“What shall you tell him?” Delora asked.

“I shall tell him that I have seen you,” I answered, “that you are well, and that he will hear from you to-morrow morning.”

“Why cable at all?” Delora asked.  “Surely to-morrow morning will be soon enough?”

“From your point of view, yes!” I said.  “But there is one other thing which I am going to do.  I am going to say in my cable, that if the news he receives from you to-morrow morning is not satisfactory, I shall lay the matter before the Brazilian legation here, and I shall explain why!”

Delora’s eyes were like points of fire.  Nevertheless, his self-restraint was admirable.  He contented himself, indeed, with a low bow.

“You will tell our friends there,” he said slowly, “that you have seen me?  That I am—­you see I admit that—­living practically in hiding, apart from my niece?  You will also, perhaps, inform them of various other little episodes with which, owing to your unfortunate habit of looking into other people’s business, you have become acquainted?”

“Naturally,” I answered.

“I think not!” Delora said.

There was an instant’s silence.  I looked at Delora and wondered what he meant.  He looked at me as a man looks at his enemy.

“May I ask how you intend to prevent me?” I inquired.

“Easily!” he answered, with a slight sneer.  “There are four men in this house who will obey my bidding.  There are also five modes of exit, two of which lead into the river.”