“I’m beginning to see,” he said. “Seven Dials must be the headquarters of some secret society. As he says in his letter to you, he thought it rather a joke to start with. But evidently it wasn’t a joke⁠—he says as much. And there’s something else: his anxiety that you should forget what he’d told you. There can be only one reason for that⁠—if that society suspected that you had any knowledge of its activity, you too would be in danger. Gerald realised the peril, and he was terribly anxious⁠—for you.”

He stopped, then he went on quietly:

“I rather fancy that we’re all going to be in danger⁠—if we go on with this.”

“If⁠—?” cried Bundle indignantly.

“I’m talking of you two. It’s different for me. I was poor old Ronny’s pal.” He looked at Bundle. “You’ve done your bit. You’ve delivered the message he sent me. Now, for God’s sake keep out of it, you and Loraine.”