ave good eyes。 Very good eyes； even in the dark。 It has always been said of me that I never forget a face。〃 One left with a puzzled feeling that she had not told all she knew…even to the police。
It was nearing sundown when they arrived at the Inglaterra。 She said； 〃e in；〃 in answer to Manning's low； confidential knock on the door； and they found her standing in the middle of the room。 Her arrested posture indicated they had interrupted her in the act of pacing agitatedly back and forth； waiting for their arrival。
〃At last；〃 she greeted them limply。 〃I've been dressed since four； and I was getting more nervous by the minute。 I didn't know whether you'd changed your plans or not； and there was nowhere I could reach you。 You said tonight； so I went ahead and fixed up for the Madrid anyway； in order to be ready。 Is this all right？〃 She backed away a step in order to let them take in a white evening gown sewn with crystal beads。
〃Good。 Just the thing！〃 Manning said approvingly。 〃It'll glitter in the dark and make it easier for him to pick you out。 Are you frightened？〃
〃I'm getting over it now by degrees；〃 she admitted。 〃But you should have seen me a half…hour ago。 My teeth kept chattering every few minutes。〃
〃Here's something I brought over for you。〃 He took a small…caliber gun out of his pocket； handed it over to her haft first。 〃Put it in your evening bag。 Do you know anything about using them？〃
〃I can't exactly say that I've been brought up on them； but I'll probably know what to do with it； if I have to； when the time es。〃
〃Just get rid of this； that's the safety； and tighten your finger； and that's all you have to remember。 And； Marjorie； if you should have to； don't just threaten。 Use it first； and then threaten； you're up against something that…〃
〃I know；〃 she said； quickly blinking the thought out of her mind。
〃Will it go in？〃
〃I've got a bigger one here； with drawstrings。 It'll go in that。 It opens faster than this envelope type； too。〃
Raul had been standing politely by； listening to their unknown talk。
〃Excuse me； my manners；〃 Manning apologized。 〃Miss King； Raul Belmonte。 You two will have to municate by signs。〃
They bowed to one another； as though it were some sort of social function and not a death party they were about to start out on。
〃Have you seen the papers？ It worked！〃 Manning went on。 〃Oh； I forgot； you don't read much Spanish。 Anyway； they've swallowed it hook； line； and sinker。 I phoned Robles at his headquarters a little while ago； and he told me there's not a man left in the Bosque。 They've all been sent over to the latest danger zone； over by the Hippodrome race track。 He got six calls from there inside of twenty minutes； all reporting having seen it in broad daylight； under the race…track stands。 Not only that； there's a big shake…up impending； he couldn't dare afford to ignore this sudden flood of notifications。 His own sense of duty wouldn't have let him anyway。〃
〃Were those your six calls？〃
〃I paid for seven； but one guy evidently got cold feet and absconded with the peso gratuity。〃
〃Did you get the other thing in？〃
〃It's been in since last night。 He's read it by now； if he's going to read it at all。
He stopped； ground his hands together a little nervously； like a surgeon about to perform an operation or a dentist about to extract a tooth。 〃Now； Marjorie…〃
〃I know； zero hour；〃 she said； with a facial shiver that was only partly a parody。
〃You'll have to leave here by yourself。 Belmonte and I are clearing out right now； as soon as I run over this with you； so we can get set out there by the lake before dark。 We can't start out with you； because there's nq way of knowing at just what point freedom from observation stops and surveillance sets in。 It may be right downstairs at the door of the hotel。 It may be out at the Madrid。 It may be not until you reach the lake itself。 You leave here about half an hour after dark。 Take an open carriage like you did that night。 At the Madrid be sure you're given an outside table； at the very edge of the pavilion； so he can ogle his fill at you。 Insist on it Keep your eyes away from the dark； don't try to look for him； you won't be able to see him anyway。 Take all the time you want dining and sitting there。 Try to avoid giving an impression of tension or restlessness。 Above all； don't let anyone tangle with you while you're there。 If he sees anyone sit down with you even for a few minutes； it may frighten him off。 This is a psychological buildup as much as a visual one。〃
〃And then？〃
〃The lake and the swans； like with Sally。 That's the target range。〃
〃Won't the coachman's presence be an obstacle？〃
〃Was it the last time？ He did something to frighten the horse away。 Give him rope； stray away from。 the horse and carriage； down below by the lake's edge。〃
She swallowed； held her own throat。 〃Manning； I'm not trying to back Out； but your mention of that detail makes me wonder。 The way those swans and that horse were frightened…they must have scented something rather than heard or saw it。 Suppose there really is a jaguar in it…what'll I do？ It'll be a little harder to save me from that。〃
〃There must be a jaguar in it somewhere；〃 he told her bluntly。 〃Too much of Robles' evidence points to that。 But my contention is； it's a jaguar and a man。 In other words； a jaguar under control； directed by a human intelligence in some way。〃
〃You mean he…takes it with him； sets it loose upon the victims？ But how can you do anything in time to help me； in that case？ Those things spring like lightning。〃
〃I don't know what it is or what he does。 I only know it's not a random beast。 That's what we're trying to find out tonight。 I'm asking you to have confidence in me； Marjorie。 Belmonte and I will both lay down our lives rather than let any harm e to you。 As long as there is a human agency involved； I feel confident we can outmatch it。 I realize it's a terrible ordeal to ask you to go through。 But we've got to have a girl in it…it doesn't attack men…and there 'isn't anyone else I know of we can ask to help us。〃
〃There isn't anyone else you have to ask；〃 she told him。 〃I'm not going to lie to you and pretend I'm not scared； I'm scared sick。 But it's been understood since two nights ago that I'm going to do this； and that still goes。〃 Her lips were tight and thin。 He touched her clenched hand and found it ice cold。 He liked her all the better for that somehow。
〃And how long do I stay down by the lake in case nothing happens？〃
〃Until you've found the missing locket。〃
〃Oh； there really is one there？〃
〃Yes； I bought one at the five…and…ten and planted it there myself this morning。 It's right at the water's edge； under a few loose stones。 Smoke a cigarette； for good measure after you've found it； if you want to time yourself。 Meander along the lake shore for a short distance； and don't forget what I told you； make sure you stray out of the coachman's sight while you're about it。 If； by the time you've finished your cigarette； nothing has happened； you can be sure he's not around； won't show up any more tonight。 Simply get back into the carriage and return here to the hotel。 We'll follow you back in a few minutes' time ourselves。〃
〃The sun's getting low；〃 Belmonte warned in Spanish； glancing toward the window。 〃It's hit the cross on the cathedral。 We'd better get started ourselves if we want to get there while it's still light enough for us to pick our own hiding places。〃
He bent gallantly over Marjorie's hand； murmuring； 〃Homage to a very courageous lady。〃
Manning took it in turn； shook it encouragingly in American fashion。 〃Here goes。 Now keep cool； and put your faith in us。 I looked that gun over for you myself； it's in hair…trigger readiness。 Remember what I told you： just flick off the safety and tighten your finger。 And if it's a case of real emergency； don't take time to draw it out； fire it through your bag and all。〃
Raul； unemotional for a South American； perhaps because he was so tense； stood waiting for him in the corridor outside。 〃e on； Manning； we'll never get there；〃 he urged in a matterof…fact voice