If he was one of the villains in the drama, he would mark me down for his vengeance once he knew I was here, whereas at present he had probably forgotten all about me.

Besides, if I walked in boldly I would get no news.

If japp and he had a secret, they would not blab it in my presence.
My next idea was to slip in by the back to the room I had once lived in.

But how was I to cross the road?
It ran white and dry some distance each way in full view of the Kaffir with the horses.

Further, the store stood on a bare patch, and it would be a hard job to get in by the back, assuming, as I believed, that the neighbourhood was thick with spies.
The upshot was that I got my glasses and turned them on the store.