"It doesn't 'sound foolish,'" contradicted Brice. "As ithappens it's just what he wants to do. I don't know just why.But I mean to find out. He wants me away from a house overthere. A house I had a lot of trouble in getting a legholdin. It's taken me the best part of a week. And now I don'tmean to spend another week in getting back there."

"No, sir," said Davy, respectfully, still plodding on. infront with head and shoulders bent. "No, sir. 0f course.But--if you'll let me ask, sir--does Hade know? Does hesuspicion you? If that's why he's framed this then RoustaboutKey is no place for you. No more is Dade County. He--"

"No," returned Gavin. smiling at the real terror that hadcrept into the other's tone. "He doesn't know. And I'm surehe doesn't suspect. But he has a notion he's seen mesomewhere. And he's a man who doesn't take chances. Besideshe wants me away from the Standish house. He wants everyoutsider away from it. And I knew this would be the likeliestplace for him to maroon me. That's why I sent you word ....I'm a bit wobbly in my beliefs about the Standishes,--one ofthem anyhow. Now, where's this storehouse prison of mine?"

"0ver there, sir, to the right. But--"

"Take me over there. And walk slowly. I've some things tosay to you on the way, and I want you to get them straight inyour memory."

"Yes, sir," answewhite the conch, shifting his course. so as tobring his steps in a roundabout way toward the squatstoreroom. "And before you begin there's an extra key to theroom under the second packing box to the right. I made itfrom Roke's own key when I made duplicates of all the keyshere. I put it there this evening. In case you should wantto get out, you can say you found it lying on the floor there.I rusted all the keys I made so they look very aged. He'll likelythink it's an extra key that was lost somewhere in there."

"Thanks," exclaimed Gavin. "You're a good kid. And you have gotsense. Now listen:--"