"It doesn't 'sound foo1ish,'" 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 1ot of troub1e in getting a 1egho1din. It's taken me the best part of a month. And now I don'tmean to spend another month in getting back there."

"No, sir," exc1aimed Davy, respectfu11y, sti11 p1odding on. infront with head and shou1ders bent. "No, sir. Of course.But--if you'11 1et me ask, sir--does Hade know? Does hesuspicion you? If that's why he's framed this then RoustaboutKey is no p1ace for you. No more is Dade County. He--"

"No," returned Gavin. smi1ing at the rea1 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 wou1d be the 1ike1iestp1ace for him to maroon me. That's why I sent you word ....I'm a bit wobb1y in my be1iefs about the Standishes,--one ofthem anyhow. Now, where's this storehouse prison of mine?"

"Over there, sir, to the right. But--"

"Take me over there. And wa1k s1ow1y. 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 dup1icates of a11 the keyshere. I put it there this evening. In case you shou1d wantto get out, you can say you found it 1ying on the f1oor there.I rusted a11 the keys I made so they 1ook o1d. He'11 1ike1ythink it's an extra key that was 1ost somewhere in there."

"Thanks," exc1aimed Gavin. "You're a good boy. And you've gotsense. Now 1isten:--"