beautiful。 〃Now！〃 she said。 She sat down opposite him； head tilted attentively。 The period of futile mourning was past； it was easy to see that。 〃Help yourself to those；〃 she said parenthetically； 〃if they help you to think better；〃 and motioned toward a pack of American cigarettes。
There was a moment or two of silence。 She was the first one to speak。 〃To be the bait； he must be drawn to me next。 Out of every girl and woman in this city。 How are we going to manage that？ How can I hope to succeed in attracting his attention？〃
〃You can't if we just leave it to chance。 The law of averages would be too strongly against it。 You could walk the streets alone at night； every night for the next ten years； and he might strike all around you； but never e near you again。 It must be a setup。 Now here's what my idea is。 If he reads the papers at all； he's sure to read the rehashes of his own monstrosities； if nothing else。 He must have seen there were two of you that night； he must have followed you from the time you both left the restaurant。 I'm wondering if there isn't some way I can plant…but very subtly； so that he doesn't scent a trap…in the newspapers； along with the accounts of your previous experience； the idea that you would be foolhardy enough； scatterbrained enough； to go back again to some such place； unacpanied； even after what happened the last time。 And along with an even defter hint that you got a look at him； would be able to identify him。 In that way； there'll be two powerful impulses pulling him toward you： his maniacal urge itself； whatever that is； and also his sense of self…preservation。〃
〃But isn't it farfetched？ Would even a deranged mind swallow such a probability？〃
〃It won't be easy to swing it。 Let's see if we can hammer something out between us。 To begin with； you must realize that they believe an American capable of anything down here； to them We're all half wacky in the first place。 That'll help some。〃 He tapped on the ends of his spread fingers one by one。 〃You have a passion for taking walks in the moonlight； you don't intend to let anything interfere with your habits… No； that's no good。〃
They both shook their heads in unison。 〃That wouldn't tell him just where to find you； even if he did fall for it；〃 he added。
He glanced aside at the discarded sweater of Sally O'Keefe； suddenly brightened。 〃Wait a minute； I've got it…that gave me an idea。 Something belonging to one or the other of you。 Something of sentimental value； that you cannot bear to part with。 You dropped it there that night； by the lake。 A locket； say； that was given to you by your mother when you were a child。 Or a goodluck charm。 Something that you are determined not to leave the city until you have recovered。〃
〃It's better than the first one； but there are still things against it。 Wouldn't I be expected to go back well escorted； even if I did go back to look for it？ And why would it have to be at night？ Why wouldn't I go during the daylight hours？〃
〃But he'll be watching for you； and he'll see with his own eyes that you have e back alone； and that you have e back at night。 What more proof can he want than that？ The thing is； his attention will be drawn to that vicinity a second time； and that's the main thing we want。 Once he's lurking around； the rest will follow automatically。 He'll see that you're alone； and he'll…〃 He didn't finish it。
〃It just may work；〃 she assented。
〃It's flimsy； but it just may work； that's the best we can hope for about the whole thing anyway； there's no guarantee it will。 Through my pressagenting I have an in at most of the editorial staffs in town； I can get the item in the papers without much trouble。 And without letting them catch on； naturally。 Just a personal interview with you here at the hotel； submitted to put a little change in my pockets。 If it should e to Robles' attention； I can shunt him off by saying there's not a word of truth in it； I just made it up； you're actually scared stiff and taking the next train out of town。
〃It must be very delicately done。 It mustn't be overemphasized； that would give it away。 Just a couple of words thrown in offhand。 Just enough to give his warped brain the idea； without letting him realize where he got it from himself； if possible。 After all； this will be a short cut for him。 He'll know ahead of time where to look for another prospective victim； alone and helpless。 Before he had to roam around endlessly； waiting for the right bination of circumstances。 That wasn't easy to get。 I think he'll fall for it。 I think his murderous ego must be sufficiently swollen by now for him to disregard minor drawbacks that would have been enough to deter him in the beginning。 He must think he can get。 away with anything by this time。 And then there'll be the added little spur that you may have seen him； that he'd better see to it he gets rid of you without further ado； to ensure the continuance of his own immunity。〃
〃What about this police official and his men； aren't they likely to be buzzing around in that park as thick as flies for the next week or so； after what happened the other night？ They might frighten him away。 Hadn't we better make it some other place？〃
He dug his fingers absently through his hair。 〃I don't know of any other that would serve as well。 To shift the locale would do away with your supposed motive for returning； that is； to reclaim something you lost in there the first time。 And then its size is an added inducement to him。 The others are all pretty small； wouldn't afford enough cover。〃
〃Very well； then； let's make it the Bosque。 You probably know best。〃
〃I think we have a better chance there than almost anywhere else； no matter how farfetched it may strike you at first。 For one thing； he probably watched the two of you through the trees at the Madrid； singled you out； even before you got back into the carriage that night。 If he has an opportunity to do that again； watch you at his leisure over a period of an hour or two beforehand； make sure that you are entirely alone； I think the temptation will be that much stronger。 We will have a chance to get in a sort of buildup of his self…confidence； so to speak。 That would be lacking if you were just to roam aimlessly around some small park inside the city。 th fact； I think it would look suspicious； more than anything else。 For another thing； I think the recklessness； the effrontery； the supreme cheek； of returning to the same place a second time will appeal irresistibly to his egomania； give him an added thrill that he won't be able to pass by。〃 He put out his cigarette。 〃As far as Robles and his bunch of dimwits are concerned； I think there's an easy…enough way of getting rid of them。 I'll phone in a false report to one of the genedarmerias of having seen the jaguar； big as life； in an entirely different section of the city。 For a few pesos extra I can even get a handful of sidewalk bums here and there to confirm it simultaneously； on other public telephones。 That will draw them all away from the Bosque； clear it beautifully for us。〃
〃Yes； but will he know that？ He may suspect them of still lurking…〃
〃He can find out for himself whether or not the Bosque is empty； without any added risk； can't he？ Remember； they're looking for a beast in all this； not a biped。 God knows how many times he has already brushed shoulders with them undetected； maybe even returned to gaze on his own handiwork from the outskirts of those morbid crowds that have gathered at each place。 He can go into the Bosque in perfect safety； see for himself whether there are any stray details of police left around； for they are working openly on this jaguar job； not under cover as they would with human quarry； and when he is convinced that there aren't； concentrate on you unhindered。〃
A cord at the side of her neck stood out briefly； but she gave no other sign。 〃That's the way we'll do it；〃 he summed up。 She was silent for a moment。 Finally she asked； with a flicker of a smile that swept by too soon to be able to take a very firm hold on her features； 〃What night will we pick for this…date with destruction？〃
〃Night after tomorrow。 That'll give us fortyeight full hours to