But Bauer reasoned as a townsman, and Rudolf Rassendyll had the
quick ear of a man bred in the country and trained to the
woodland. All at once there was a jerk of his head; I know so
well the motion which marked awakened attention in him. He did
not pause nor break his stride: to do either would have been to
betray his suspicions to his follower; but he crossed the road to
the opposite side to that where No. 19 was situated, and
slackened his pace a little, so that there was a longer interval
between his own footfalls. The steps behind him grew slower, even
as his did; their sound came no nearer: the follower would not
overtake. Now, a man who loiters on such a night, just because
another head of him is fool enough to loiter, has a reason for
his action other than what can at first sight be detected. So
thought Rudolf Rassendyll, and his brain was busied with finding
it out.
Then an idea seized him, and, forgetting the precautions that had
hitherto served so well, he came to a sudden stop on the
pavement, engrossed in deep thought. Was the man who dogged his
steps Rupert himself? It would be like Rupert to track him, like
Rupert to conceive such an attack, like Rupert to be ready either
for a fearless assault from the front or a shameless shot from
behind, and indifferent utterly which chance offered, so it threw
him one of them.
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