rendezvous with our friend. There are many urgent things I wish to say to you, and I want you to lunch with me to-day at noon, chez moi. It will be quite safe.
This note caused me no surprise. I had expected something of the sort—but from Ivan. However, as Léontine might expect to be entangled in the net of any general revelations and had no idea how much I might have told in my statement, she was naturally uneasy, and no doubt wanted the chance to convince me that I was behaving foolishly and meanly.
There seemed no special reason for not complying with her request, as, now that I had broken cover, I was in no more danger in one place than another. If Ivan dared he could have me assassinated—when he liked and so might Chu-Chu. Mind you, I wasn't feeling so dead safe, by any means; what I was doing was simply the best of several poor choices—leaving the country, killing Chu-Chu, and then taking a chance on Ivan's carrying out his threat, or skulking around in disguise and waiting for something to turn up. I don't count the possibility of going back to graft as a choice, because I never for a second considered it.
A little after eleven a man whom I knew came in, and the clocks were striking twelve when I jumped into a taxi and started up to Léontine's. It seemed nice to be going about the city openly and well groomed again. After all, I thought, maybe it's better to take a chance of being scragged like a gentleman than to go slinking about like a street cat. I'll keep my eyes open, and if he can get me
