"You mean to say that you have come here to arrest me on this charge?
That you want me to go away with you to-night?" he asked.
"It is not a matter of wanting you to come," the Baron answered coldly.
"It is a matter of necessity."
Duncombe moved towards the fireplace.
"Will you allow me the privilege of a few moments' conversation with you
in private?" he said to the Baron. "Your companions will perhaps excuse
you for a moment."
The Baron followed without remark. They stood facing one another upon
the hearthrug. Duncombe leaned one elbow upon the mantlepiece, and
turned towards his companion.
"Look here," he said, "those papers seem genuine enough, and if you
insist upon it I will go with you to Norwich. I shall take care not to
let you out of my sight, and if when we get there I find that this is
any part of one of your confounded conspiracies you will find that the
penalties for this sort of thing in England are pretty severe. However,
no doubt you are well aware of that. The question is this. What do you
really want from me?"
Monsieur Louis, who had lit a cigarette, withdrew it from his mouth and
examined the lighted end for a moment in silence.
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