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〃You're a splendid conspirator； Bill。 You and I could take on
anything together。〃
The pond was waiting for them； more solemn in the moonlight。 The
trees which crowned the sloping bank on the far side of it were
mysteriously silent。 It seemed that they had the world very much to
themselves。
Almost unconsciously Antony spoke in a whisper。
〃There's your tree； there's mine。 As long as you don't move； there's
no chance of his seeing you。 After he's gone； don't come out till I do。
He won't be here for a quarter of an hour or so； so don't be impatient。〃
〃Righto；〃 whispered Bill。
Antony gave him a nod and a smile； and they walked off to their posts。
The minutes went by slowly。 To Antony； lying hidden in the
undergrowth at the foot of his tree； a new problem was presenting itself。
Suppose Cayley had to make more than one journey that night？ He might
come back to find them in the boat； one of them； indeed； in the water。
And if they decided to wait in hiding； on the chance of Cayley coming
back again； what was the least time they could safely allow？ Perhaps it
would be better to go round to the front of the house and watch for his
return there； the light in his bedroom； before conducting their experiments
at the pond。 But then they might miss his second visit in this way； if he
made a second visit。 It was difficult。
His eyes were fixed on the boat as he considered these things； and
suddenly； as if materialized from nowhere； Cayley was standing by the
boat。 In his hand was a small brown bag。
Cayley put the bag in the bottom of the boat； stepped in； and using an
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The Red House Mystery
oar as a punt…pole； pushed slowly off。 Then； very silently； he rowed
towards the middle of the pond。
He had stopped。 The oars rested on the water。 He picked up the bag
from between his feet； leant over the nose of the boat； and rested it lightly
on the water for a moment。 Then he let go。 It sank slowly。 He waited
there； watching； afraid； perhaps； that it might rise again。 Antony began to
count。。。。
And now Cayley was back at his starting…place。 He tied up the boat；
looked carefully round to see that he had left no traces behind him； and
then turned to the water again。 For a long time； as it seemed to the
watchers； he stood there； very big； very silent； in the moonlight。 At last
he seemed satisfied。 Whatever his secret was； he had hidden it； and so
with a gentle sigh； as unmistakable to Antony as if he had heard it； Cayley
turned away and vanished again as quietly as he had come。
Antony gave him three minutes； and stepped out from the trees。 He
waited there for Bill to join him。
〃Six；〃 whispered Bill。
Antony nodded。
〃I'm going round to the front of the house。 You get back to your tree
and watch； in case Cayley comes again。 Your bedroom is the left…hand
end one； and Cayley's the end but one？ Is that right？〃
Bill nodded。
〃Right。 Wait in hiding till I come back。 I don't know how long I
shall be； but don't be impatient。 It will seem longer than it is。〃 He
patted Bill on the shoulder； and with a smile and a nod of the head he left
him there。
What was in the bag？ What could Cayley want to hide other than a
key or a revolver？ Keys and revolvers sink of themselves； no need to put
them in a bag first。 What was in the bag？ Something which wouldn't
sink of itself； something which needed to be helped with stones before it
would hide itself safely in the mud。
Well； they would find that out。 There was no object in worrying
about it now。 Bill had a dirty night's work in front of him。 But where
was the body which Antony had expected so confidently or； if there were
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The Red House Mystery
no body； where was Mark？
More immediately； however； where was Cayley？ As quickly as he
could Antony had got to the front of the house and was now lying in the
shrubbery which bordered the lawn； waiting for the light to go up in
Cayley's window。 If it went up in Bill's window； then they were
discovered。 It would mean that Cayley had glanced into Bill's room； had
been suspicious of the dummy figure in the bed； and had turned up the
light to make sure。 After that； it was war between them。 But if it went
up in Cayley's room…
There was a light。 Antony felt a sudden thrill of excitement。 It was
in Bill's room。 War！
The light stayed there； shining vividly； for a wind had come up；
blowing the moon behind a cloud； and casting a shadow over the rest of
the house。 Bill had left his curtains undrawn。 It was careless of him；
the first stupid thing he had done； but
The moon slipped out again。。。。 and Antony laughed to himself in the
bushes。 There was another window beyond Cayley's； and there was no
light in it。 The declaration of war was postponed。
Antony lay there； watching Cayley into bed。 After all it was only
polite to return Cayley's own solicitude earlier in the night。 Politeness
demanded that one should not disport oneself on the pond until one's
friends were comfortably tucked up。
Meanwhile Bill was getting tired of waiting。 His chief fear was that
he might spoil everything by forgetting the number 〃six。〃 It was the
sixth post。 Six。 He broke off a twig and divided it into six pieces。
These he arranged on the ground in front of him。 Six。 He looked at the
pond； counted up to the sixth post； and murmured 〃six〃 to himself again。
Then he looked down at his twigs。 One…two…three…four…five…six…seven。
Seven！ Was it seven？ Or was that seventh bit of a twig an accidental
bit which had been on the ground anyhow？ Surely it was six！ Had he
said 〃six〃 to Antony？ If so； Antony would remember； and it was all right。
Six。 He threw away the seventh twig and collected the other six together。
Perhaps they would be safer in his pocket。 Six。 The height of a tall
man … well； his own height。 Six feet。 Yes； that was the way to
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remember it。 Feeling a little safer on the point； he began to wonder about
the bag； and what Antony would say to it； and the possible depth of the
water and of the mud at the bottom； and was still so wondering； and
saying； 〃Good Lord； what a life！〃 to himself； when Antony reappeared。
Bill got up and came down the slope to meet him。
〃Six；〃 he said firmly。 〃Sixth post from the end。〃
〃Good；〃 smiled Antony。 〃Mine was the eighteenth … a little way past
it。〃
〃What did you go off for？〃
〃To see Cayley into bed。〃
〃Is it all right？〃
〃Yes。 Better hang your coat over the sixth post； and then we shall see
it more easily。 I'll put mine on the eighteenth。 Are you going to undress
here or in the boat？〃
〃Some here； and some in the boat。 You're quite sure that you
wouldn't like to do the diving yourself？〃
〃Quite； thanks。〃
They had walked round to the other side of the pond。 Coming to the
sixth post of the fence； Bill took off his coat and put it in position； and
then finished his undressing； while Antony went off to mark the eighteenth
post。 When they were ready； they got into the boat； Antony taking the
oars。
〃Now； Bill； tell me as soon as I'm in a line with your two marks。〃
He rowed slowly towards the middle of the pond。
〃You're about there now；〃 said Bill at last。
Antony stopped rowing and looked about him。
〃Yes； that's pretty well right。〃 He turned the boat's nose round until it
was pointing to the pine…tree under which Bill had lain。 〃You see my tree
and the other coat？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Bill。
〃Right。 Now then； I'm going to row gently along this line until we're
dead in between the two。 Get it as exact as you can … for your own sake。〃
〃Steady！〃 said Bill warningly。 〃Back a little。。。。 a little more。。。。 a little
more forward again。。。。 Right。〃 Antony left the oars on the water and
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The Red House Mystery
looked around。 As far as he could tell； they were in an exact line with
each pair of landmarks。
〃Now then； Bill； in you go。〃
Bill pulled off his shirt and trousers； and stood up。
〃You mustn't dive from the boat； old boy；〃 said Antony hastily。 〃You'll
shift its position。 Slide in gently。〃
Bill slid in from the stern and swam slowly round to Antony。
〃What's it like？〃 said Antony。
〃Cold。 Well； here's luck to it。〃
He gave a sudden kick； flashed for a moment in the water； and was
gone。 Antony steadied the boat； and took another look at his landmarks。
Bill came up behind him with a loud explosion。 〃It's pretty muddy；〃
he protested。
〃Weeds？〃
〃No； thank the Lord。〃
〃Well； try again。
Bill gave another kick and disappeared。 Again Antony coaxed the
boat back into position； and again Bill popped up； this time in front of
him。
〃I feel that if I threw you a sardine；〃 said Antony； with a smile； 〃you'd
catch it in your mouth quite prettily。〃
〃It's awfully easy to be funny from where you are。 How much longer
have I got to go on doing this？〃
Antony looked at his watch。
〃About three hours。 We must get back before daylight。 But be
quicker if you can； because it's rather cold for me sitting here。〃
Bill flicked a handful of water at him and disappear