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It appeared that he had been educated at Blundell's School, had lost his parents at about sixteen, had done a course in some electrical engineering shops at Plymouth, and when twenty years old had secured a good berth on the engineering staff of the Vernon. He could speak both French and German, which he had learned partly at school and partly on the Continent during leave.
"Well, Blundell's gone too, they say. He's heartily frightened. A few more will follow, and we must both be out of the way. The rest could not well be identified, and whether they are or not does not concern us, except that they may blab of their confederates. Such as seem likely to suffer detection must be frightened off; and this, by the way, is not so difficult a matter.
My perfect acquaintance with English, my education at Blundell's, my knowledge of your thoughts and your queer ways, and twists of mind, had equipped me conspicuously for Secret Service work in your midst. As a youth of twenty, in the first flush of manhood, I was seconded for service here, and I returned to England. That was five years ago. Cary was leaning forward intent upon every word.
It reminded me, too, of Blundell's bell, and the grief to go into school again.
Thence it hurries away, with strength and a force of wilful waters, under the foot of a barefaced hill, and so to rocks and woods again, where the stream is covered over, and dark, heavy pools delay it. For of all the things I learned at Blundell's, only two abode with me, and one of these was the knack of fishing, and the other the art of swimming.
I was young enough to absorb the rich English atmosphere, nowhere so rich as in that county which is the home and breeding-ground of your most splendid Navy. I was born again, a young Elizabethan Englishman. My story to you of my origin was true in one particular I really was educated at Blundell's School at Tiverton.
It reminded me, too, of Blundell's bell, and the grief to go into school again.
Blundell's backward glance showed him the tall and portly form silhouetted against the window; the last gleam of daylight illuminating the iron-grey hair; the face turned towards the hilltop, where the spires of the skeleton larches were sharply outlined against a clear western sky.
"At Blundell's garage," I answered. "And I was buying a car?" "Yes, a fifty-seven Daimler ... that was the talk." "Could you drive a car like that?" "Could I oh, my godfathers " "Then you have handled fast cars?" "I drove with Fournier in the Paris-Bordeaux, was through the Florio for the Fiat people, and have driven the big Delahaye just upon a hundred and three miles an hour.
"Don't you worry about that; I shall find somebody." Mr. Turnbull turned and cast a speculative eye along the quay. As a rule, he had great confidence in Blundell's determination, but on this occasion he had his doubts. "Well, it's a riddle to me," he said, slowly. "I give it up. It seems Halloa! Good heavens, be careful. You nearly had me in then." "Did I?" said Blundell, thickly.
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