My Strangest Case

By Guy Boothby

Author of "Dr. Nikola, " "The Beautiful White Devil, " "Pharos, theEgyptian, " etc. 

Illustrated by L. J. Bridgman and P. Hard

_Originally Published 1901_

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

"A DARK, NARROW HOLE, THE BOTTOM OF WHICH IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. "

"'LOOK HERE, ' HE CRIED, 'IT'S THE BANK OF ENGLAND IN EACH HAND. '"

"'POOR DEVIL, ' SAID GREGORY. 'HE SEEMS TO BE ON HIS LAST LEGS. '"

"HE FELL WITH A CRASH AT MY FEET. "

"'LET'S OUT HIM, BILL, ' SAID THE TALLER OF THE TWO MEN. "

"'HOW DO YOU DO, MR. FAIRFAX?' SAID MISS KITWATER. "

"IN HIS HAND HE HELD A REVOLVER. "

"THE WOODWORK SNAPPED, AND THE TWO MEN FELL OVER THE EDGE. "

_MY STRANGEST CASE_

~INTRODUCTION~

PART I

I am of course prepared to admit that there are prettier places on theface of this earth of ours than Singapore; there are, however, I ventureto assert, few that are more interesting, and certainly none that canafford a better study of human life and character. There, if you are sodisposed, you may consider the subject of British Rule on the one hand, and the various aspects of the Chinese question on the other. If you area student of languages you will be able to hear half the tongues of theworld spoken in less than an hour's walk, ranging say from ParisianFrench to Pigeon English; you shall make the acquaintance of every sortof smell the human nose can manipulate, from the sweet perfume of thelotus blossom to the diabolical odour of the Durien; and every sort ofcooking from a dainty _vol-au-vent_ to a stuffed rat. In the harbour theshipping is such as, I feel justified in saying, you would encounter inno other port of its size in the world. It comprises the statelyman-of-war and the Chinese Junk; the P. And O. , the MessagerieMaritime, the British India and the Dutch mail-boat; the homely sampan, the yacht of the globe-trotting millionaire, the collier, thetimber-ship, and in point of fact every description of craft that pliesbetween the Barbarian East and the Civilized West. The first glimpse ofthe harbour is one that will never be forgotten; the last is usuallyassociated with a desire that one may never set eyes on it again. He whowould, of his own free will, settle down for life in Singapore, musthave acquired the tastes of a salamander, and the sensibility of a frog. 

Among its other advantages, Singapore numbers the possession of amultiplicity of hotels. There is stately Raffles, where theglobe-trotters do mostly take up their abode, also the Hôtel del'Europe, whose virtues I can vouch for; but packed away in another andvery different portion of the town, unknown to the wealthy G. T. , andindeed known to only a few of the white inhabitants of Singapore itself, there exists a small hostelry owned by a lynx-eyed Portuguese, whichrejoices in the name of the Hotel of the Three Desires. Now, every man, who by mischance or deliberate intent, has entered its doors, has hisown notions of the meaning of its name; the fact, however, remains thatit is there, and that it is regularly patronized by individuals of acertain or uncertain class, as they pass to and fro through the Gatewayof the Further East. This in itself is strange, inasmuch as it is saidthat the proprietor rakes in the dollars by selling liquor that is asbad as it can possibly be, in order that he may get back to Lisbonbefore he receives that threatened knife-thrust between the ribs whichhas been promised him so long. There are times, as I am unfortunatelyable to testify, when the latter possibility is not so remote as mightbe expected. Taken altogether, however, the Hotel of the Three Desiresis an excellent place to take up one's abode, provided one is notdesirous of attracting too much attention in the city. As a matter offact its patrons, for some reason of their own, are more _en evidence_after nightfall than during the hours of daylight. They are also frugalof speech as a rule, and are chary of forming new acquaintances. Whenthey know each other well, however, it is surprising how affable theycan become. It is not the smallest of their many peculiarities that theyseldom refer to absent friends by their names. A will ask B when heexpects to hear from _Him_, and C will inform D that "the _old man_ isnow running the show, and that, if _he_ doesn't jump from Calcuttainside a week, there will be trouble on the floor. " Meanwhile thelandlord mixes the drinks with his own dirty hands, and reflectscontinually upon the villainy of a certain American third mate, whohaving borrowed five dollars from him, was sufficiently ungrateful as tocatch typhoid fever and die without either repaying the loan, or, whatwas worse, settling his account for the board and lodging received. Manuel, for this was the proprietor's name, had one or two recollectionsof a similar sort, but not many, for, as a rule, he is a careful fellow, and experience having taught him the manners and idiosyncrasies of hiscustomers, he generally managed to emerge from his transactions withcredit to himself, and what was of much more importance, a balance onthe right side of his ledger. 

The time of which I am now writing was the middle of March, the hottestand, in every respect, the worst month of the year in Singapore. Day andnight the land was oppressed by the same stifling heat, a swelteringcalidity possessing the characteristics of a steam-laundry, coupled withthose of the stokehole of an ocean liner in the Red Sea. Morning, noon, and night, the quarter in which the Hotel of the Three Desires wassituated was fragrant with the smell of garbage and Chinese tobacco; apeculiar blend of perfume, which once smelt is not to be soon forgotten. Everything, even the bottles on the shelves in the bar, had a greasyfeel about them, and the mildew on one's boots when one came to put themon in the morning, was a triumph in the way of _erysiphaceous fungi_. Singapore at this season of the year is neither good for man nor beast;in this sweeping assertion, of course I except the yellow man, upon whomit seems to exercise no effect whatsoever. 

It was towards evening, and, strange to relate, the Hotel of the ThreeDesires was for once practically empty. This was the more extraordinaryfor the reason that the customers who usually frequented it, _en route_from one end of the earth to the other, are not affected by seasons. Midwinter was to them the same as midsummer, provided they did theirbusiness, or got their ships, and by those ships, or that business, received their wages. That those hard-earned wages should eventuallyfind themselves in the pocket of the landlord of the Three Desires, wasonly in the natural order of things, and, in consequence, such of hisguests as were sailors, as a general rule, eventually boarded theirships without as much as would purchase them a pipe of tobacco. It didnot, however, prevent them from returning to the Hotel of the ThreeDesires when next they happened to be that way. If he had no other gift, Manuel at least possessed the faculty of making it comparativelyhomelike to his customers, and that is a desideratum not to be despisedeven by sailor men in the Far East. 

As I have said, night was falling on one of the hottest days of theyear, when a man entered the hotel and inquired for the proprietor. Pleased to find that there was at last to be a turn in the tide of hisaffairs, the landlord introduced himself to the stranger, and at thesame time inquired in what way he could have the pleasure ofserving him. 

"I want to put up with you, " said the stranger, who, by the way, was atall man, with a hawk's eye and a nose that was not unlike the beak ofthe same bird. "You are not full, I suppose?"

Manuel rubbed his greasy hands together and observed that he was not asfull as he had been; thereby insinuating that while he was notoverflowing, he was still not empty. It will be gathered from this thathe was a good business man, who never threw a chance away. 

"In that case, I'll stay, " said the stranger, and set down the smallvalise he carried upon the floor. 

From what I have already written, you will doubtless have derived theimpression that the Hotel of the Three Desires, while being a usefulplace of abode, was far from being the caravanserai of the luxuriousorder. The stranger, whoever he might be, however, was either notfastidious, or as is more probable, was used to similar accommodation, for he paid as little attention to the perfume of the bar as he did tothe dirt upon the floor and walls, and also upon the landlord's hands. Having stipulated for a room to himself, he desired to be shown to itforthwith, whereupon Manuel led him through the house to a small yard atthe back, round which were several small cabins, dignified by the nameof apartments. 

"Splendeed, " said Manuel enthusiastically, throwing open the door ofone of the rooms as he spoke. "More splendeed than ever you saw. "

The stranger gave a ravenish sort of croak, which might have been alaugh or anything else, and then went in and closed the door abruptlybehind him. Having locked it, he took off his coat and hung it upon thehandle, apparently conscious of the fact that the landlord had glued hiseyes to the keyhole in order that he might, from a precautionary pointof view, take further stock of his patron. Foiled in his intention hereturned to the bar, murmuring "Anglish Peeg" to himself as he did so. In the meantime the stranger had seated himself upon the rough bed inthe corner, and had taken a letter from his pocket. 

"The Hotel of the Three Desires, " he reads, "and on March the fifteenth, without fail. " There was a pause while he folded the letter up andplaced it in his pocket. Then he continued, "this is the hotel, andto-day is the fifteenth of March. But why don't they put in anappearance. It isn't like them to be late. They'd better not play me anytricks or they'll find I have lost none of my old power of retaliation. "

Having satisfied himself that it was impossible for any one to see intothe room, either through the keyhole or by means of the window, hepartially disrobed, and, when he had done so, unbuckled from round hiswaist a broad leather money-belt. Seating himself on the bed once morehe unfastened the strap of the pocket, and dribbled the contents on tothe bed. They consisted of three Napoleons, fifteen English sovereigns, four half-sovereigns, and eighteen one-franc pieces. In histrouser-pocket he had four Mexican dollars, and some cosmopolitan changeof small value. 

"It's not very much, " he muttered to himself after he had counted it, "but it ought to be sufficient for the business in hand. If I hadn'tbeen fool enough to listen to that Frenchwoman on board, I shouldn'thave played cards, and then it would have been double. Why the deucewasn't I able to get Monsieur ashore? In that case I'd have got it allback, or I'd have known the reason why. "

The idea seemed to afford him some satisfaction, for he smiled, and thensaid to himself as if in terms of approbation, "By Jove, I believeyou, my boy!"

When he had counted his money and had returned it once more to itshiding-place, he buckled the belt round his person and unstrapped hisvalise, taking from it a black _Tussa_ coat which he exchanged for thathanging upon the handle of the door. Then he lighted a Java cigar andsat down upon the bed to think. Taken altogether, his was not aprepossessing countenance. The peculiar attributes I have alreadydescribed were sufficient to prevent that. At the same time it was astrong face, that of a man who was little likely to allow himself to bebeaten, of his own free will, in anything he might undertake. The mouthwas firm, the chin square, the eyes dark and well set, moreover he worea heavy black moustache, which he kept sharp-pointed. His hair was ofthe same colour, though streaked here and there with grey. His heightwas an inch and a half above six feet, but by reason of his slim figure, he looked somewhat taller. His hands and feet were small, but of hisstrength there could be no doubt. Taken altogether, he was not a manwith whom one would feel disposed to trifle. Unfortunately, however, theword _adventurer_ was written all over him, and, as a considerablesection of the world's population have good reason to know, he was aslittle likely to fail to take advantage of his opportunities as he wasto forget the man who had robbed him, or who had done him an ill turn. It was said in Hong Kong that he was well connected, and that he hadclaims upon a Viceroy now gone to his account; that, had he perseveredwith them, might have placed him in a very different position. How muchtruth there was in this report, however, I cannot say; one thing, however, is quite certain; if it were true, he had fallen grievouslyfrom his high estate. 

When his meditations had continued for something like ten minutes, herose from the bed, blew a cloud of smoke, stretched himself, strappedhis valise once more, gave himself what the sailors call a hoist, thathe might be sure his money-belt was in its proper position, and thenunlocked the door, passed out, re-locked it after him, and returned tothe bar. There he called for certain curious liquors, smelt themsuspiciously before using them, and then proceeded deliberately to mixhimself a peculiar drink. The landlord watched him with appreciativesurprise. He imagined himself to be familiar with every drink known tothe taste of man, having had wide experience, but such an one as this hehad never encountered before. 

"What do you call it?" he asked, when the other had finished hispreparations. 

"I call it a 'Help to Reformation, '" the stranger replied. Then, with asneer upon his face, he added, "It should be popular with yourcustomers. "

Taking the drink with him into the verandah outside, he seated himselfin a long chair and proceeded to sip it slowly, as if it were someelixir whose virtue would be lost by haste. Some people might have beenamused by the motley crowd that passed along the street beyond theverandah-rails, but Gideon Hayle, for such was his name, took no sort ofinterest in it. He had seen it too often to find any variety in it. As amatter of fact the mere sight of a pigtail was sufficient to remind himof a certain episode in his career which he had been for yearsendeavouring to forget. 

"It doesn't look as if they are going to put in an appearance to-night, "he said to himself, as the liquor in the glass began to wane. "Can thisletter have been a hoax, an attempt to draw me off the scent? If so, byall the gods in Asia, they may rest assured I'll be even with them. "

He looked as though he meant it!

At last he rose, and having returned his glass to the bar, donned his_topee_, left the hotel, and went for a stroll. It was but a shortdistance to the harbour, and he presently found himself strolling alongthe several miles of what I have already described as the most wonderfulshipping in the world. To Mr. Hayle the scene was too familiar to callfor comment. He had seen it on many occasions, and under a variety ofauspices. He had witnessed it as a deck-hand and as a saloon passenger;as a steerage passenger, and in the humble capacity of a stowaway. Nowhe was regarding it as a gentleman of leisure, who smoked a cigar thathad been paid for, and round whose waist was a belt with gold in it. Knowing the spot where the British India boats from Calcutta usuallylie, he made his way to it, and inquired for a certain vessel. She hadnot yet arrived, he was informed, and no one seemed to know when shemight be expected. At last, tired of his occupation, he returned to hishotel, and in due course sat down to supper. He smoked another cigar inthe verandah afterwards, and was on the point of retiring for the night, when two men suddenly made their appearance before him, and accosted himby name. He immediately sprang to his feet with a cry of welcome. 

"I had made up my mind that you were not coming, " he said as they shookhands. 

"The old tub didn't get in until a quarter to nine, " the taller of thetwo new-comers replied. "When did you arrive?"

"This afternoon, " said Hayle, and for a moment volunteered no furtherinformation. A good poker-player is always careful not to show his hand. 

"I suppose this place is not full?" inquired the man who had lastspoken. 

"Full?" asked Hayle scornfully. "It's full of cockroaches and mildew, ifthat's what you mean?"

"The best company we could possibly have, " said the taller man. "Cockroaches and blackbeetles don't talk and they don't listen atkeyholes. What's more, if they trouble you, you can put your heel onthem. Now let's see the landlord and see what he's got to offer us inthe way of rooms. We don't want any dinner, because we had it on boardthe steamer. "

Hayle accompanied them into the bar, and was a witness of thesatisfaction the landlord endeavoured, from business motives, toconceal. In due course he followed them to the small, stifling rooms inthe yard at the back, and observed that they were placed on either sideof himself. He had already taken the precaution of rapping upon thewalls in order to discover their thickness, and to find out whether thesound of chinking money was to be heard through them. 

"I must remember that thirty-seven and sixpence and two Mexican dollarsare all I have in the world, " he said to himself. "It would be badbusiness to allow them to suppose that I had more, until I find out whatthey want. "

"The last time I was here was with Stellman, " said the taller of themen, when they met again in the courtyard. "He had got a concession fromthe Dutch, so he said, to work a portion of the West Coast for shell. Hewanted me to go in with him. "

"And you couldn't see your way to it?"

"I've seen two Dutch gaols, " said the other; "and I have no use forthem. "

"And what happened to Stellman?" asked Hayle, but without any apparentinterest. He was thinking of something else at the time. 

"They got his money, his boat, and his shell, with three pearls thatwould have made your mouth water, " replied the other. 

"And Stellman?"

"Oh, they buried him at Sourabaya. He took the cholera, so they said, but I have heard since that he died of starvation. They don't feed youtoo well in Dutch gaols, especially when you've got a concession anda consul. "

The speaker looked up at his companion as he said this, and the other, who, as I have already said, was not interested in the unfortunateStellman, or had probably heard the tale before, nodded his head in thedirection of the room where the smaller man was engaged on his toilet, to the accompaniment of splashing water. The movement of the head was assignificant as the nod of the famous Lord of Burleigh. 

"Just the same, as ever, " the other replied. "Always pushing his noseinto old papers and documents, until you'd think he'd make himself ill. Lord, what a man he would have been for the British Museum! There's nothis equal on Ancient Asia in the world. "

"And this particular business?"

"Ah, you shall hear all about it in the proper time. That'll beto-morrow morning, I reckon. In the meantime you can go to bed, andcontent yourself with the knowledge that, all being well, you're goingto play a hand in the biggest scoop that ever I or anybody elsehave tackled?"

"You can't give me an inkling of what it is to-night, I suppose?"

"I could, but I'm not going to, " replied his companion calmly. "Thestory would take too long to tell, and I'm tired. Besides, you wouldwant to ask questions of Coddy, and that would upset the little man'sequilibrium. No! Go to bed and have a good night's rest, and we'll talkit over in the morning. I wonder what my curtains are like? If everthere's a place in this world for mosquitoes, it's Singapore, and Ithought Calcutta was bad enough. "

Having no desire to waste time in discussing the various capabilities ofthis noxious insect, Hayle bade the other good-night, and, when he hadvisited the bar and had smoked another cigar, disappeared in thedirection of his own apartment. 

Meanwhile Mr. Kitwater, for such was the name of the gentleman he hadjust left, had begun his preparations for the night, vigorously cursingthe mosquitoes as he did so. He was a fine-looking man, with a powerful, though somewhat humorous cast of countenance. His eyes were large, andnot unkindly. His head was a good one from a phrenological point ofview, but was marred by the possession of enormous ears which stood outon either side of his head like those of a bat. He wore a close-croppedbeard, and he was famous for his strength, which indeed was that ofa giant. 

"Hayle, if I can sum it up aright, is just the same as ever, " he said ashe arranged the mosquito-netting of his bed. "He doesn't trust me, and Idon't trust him. But he'll be none the less useful for that. Let him tryto play me false, and by the Lord Harry, he'll not live to do it again. "

With this amiable sentiment Mr. Kitwater prepared himself for slumber. 

Then, upon the three worthies the hot, tropical night settled down. 

Next morning they met at breakfast. All three were somewhat silent. Itwas as if the weight of the matter which was that day to be discussedpressed upon their spirits. The smallest of the trio, Septimus Codd byname, who was habitually taciturn, spoke scarcely a word. He was astrange little man, a nineteenth century villain in a sense. He was arogue and a vagabond, yet his one hobby, apart from his business, was astudy of the Past, and many an authority on Eastern History would havebeen astonished at the extent of his learning. He was never so happy aswhen burrowing amongst ancient records, and it was mainly due to hislearning in the first place, and to a somewhat singular accident in thesecond, that the trio were now foregathered in Singapore. His personalappearance was a peculiar one. His height was scarcely more than fourfeet six inches. His face was round, and at a distance appeared almostboyish. It was only when one came to look into it more closely, that itwas seen to be scored by numberless small lines. Moreover it wasunadorned by either beard or moustache. His hair was grey, and was wornsomewhat longer than is usual. He could speak fluently almost everylanguage of the East, and had been imprisoned by the Russians forsealing in prohibited waters, had been tortured by the Chinese on theYang-tse, and, to his own unextinguishable disgrace, flogged by theFrench in Tonquin. Not the least curious trait in his character was theaffection he entertained for Kitwater. The pair had been together foryears, had quarrelled repeatedly, but had never separated. The record oftheir doings would form an interesting book, but for want of spacecannot be more than referred to here. Hayle had been their partner innot a few of their curious undertakings, for his courage and resourcemade him a valuable ally, though how far they trusted each other it isimpossible to say. 

Breakfast over they adjourned to the verandah, where the inevitablecigars made their appearance. 

"Now, let's hear what you've got to say to me?" Hayle began. 

"Not here, " Kitwater replied. "There are too many listeners. Come downto the harbour. "

So saying he led his companions to the waterside, where he chartered anative boat for an hour's sail. Then, when they were out of earshot ofthe land, he bade Hayle pay attention to what he had to say. 

"First and foremost you must understand, " he said, "that it's all due toCoddy here. We heard something of it from an old Siamese in Hanoi, butwe never put much trust in it. Then Coddy began to look around, to huntup some of his fusty records, and after awhile he began to think thatthere might be something in the story after all. You see it's this way:you know Sengkor-Wat?"

"Sengkor how much?"

"Sengkor-Wat--the old ruin at the back of Burmah; near the ChineseBorder. Such a place as you never dreamt of. Tumble-down palaces, temples, and all that sort of thing--lying out there all alone inthe jungle. "

"I've seen Amber, " said Hayle, with the air of a man who makes a remarkthat cannot be lightly turned aside. "After that I don't want any moreruined cities. I've got no use for them. "

"No, but you've got a use for other things, haven't you? You can userubies as big as pigeon's eggs, I suppose. You've got a use forsapphires, the like of which mortal man never set eyes on before. "

"That's certainly so, " Hayle replied. "But what has this Sengkor-Wat todo with it?"

"Everything in the world, " Kitwater replied. "That's where those rubiesare, and what's more, that's where we are going to find them. "

"Are you joking, or is this sober earnest?"

He looked from Kitwater to Codd. The little man thus appealed to noddedhis head. He agreed with all his companion said. 

"It's quite true, " said he, after a pause. "Rubies, sapphires and gold, enough to make us all millionaires times over. "

"Bravo for Sengkor-Wat, then!" said Hayle. "But how do you know allthis?"

"I've told you already that Coddy found it out, " Kitwater replied. "Looking over his old records he discovered something that put him onthe track. Then I happened to remember that, years ago, when I was inHanoi, an old man had told me a wonderful story about a treasure-chamberin a ruined city in the Burmese jungle. A Frenchman who visited theplace, and had written a book about it, mentions the fact that there isa legend amongst the natives that vast treasure is buried in the ruins, but only one man, so far as we can discover, seems to have taken thetrouble to have looked for it. "

"But how big are the ruins?"

"Bigger than London, so Coddy says!"

Coddy nodded his head in confirmation of this fact. But still Hayleseemed incredulous. 

"And are you going to search all that area? It strikes me that you willbe an old man by the time you find the treasure, Kitwater. "

"Don't you believe it. We've got something better to go upon than that. There was an old Chinese traveller who visited this place in the year. .. What was the year, Coddy?"

"Twelve hundred and fifty-seven, " Codd replied without hesitation. 

"Well, he describes the glory of the place, the wealth of theinhabitants, and then goes on to tell how the king took him to the greattreasure-chamber, where he saw such riches as mortal man had neverlooked upon before. "

"But that doesn't tell you where the treasure-chamber is?" argued Hayle. 

"Perhaps not, but there are other ways of finding out; that is, if a manhas his wits about him. You've got to put two and two together if youwant to get on in this world. Coddy has translated it all, and this iswhat it amounts to. When the king had shown the traveller his treasure, the latter declared that his eyes were so blinded by its magnificencethat he could scarcely mount the steps to the spot where his majestygave audience to his people. In another place it mentions that when theking administered justice he was seated on the throne in the courtyardof the Three-headed Elephants. Now what we've got to do is to find thatcourtyard, and find it we will. "

"But how do you know that the treasure hasn't been taken away years ago?Do you think they were such fools as to leave it behind when they wentelsewhere? Not they!"

Though they were well out of earshot of the land, and alone upon theboat, Kitwater looked round him suspiciously before he answered. Then apleasant smile played over his face. It was as if he were recalling somehappy memory. 

"How do I know it?" he asked by way of preface. "If you'll listen for amoment, I'll tell you. If you want more proof, when I've done, you mustbe difficult to please. When I was up at Moulmein six months ago, Icame across a man I hadn't met for several years. He was a Frenchman, who I knew had spent the most of his life away back in Burmah. He wasvery flush of money at the time, and kept throwing out hints, when wewere alone, of a place he knew of where there was the biggest fortune onearth, to be had for the mere picking up and carrying away. He hadbrought away as much of it as he could, but he hadn't time to get itall, before he was chased out by the Chinese, who, he said, were strongin the neighbourhood. "

Kitwater stopped and rubbed his hands with a chuckle. Decidedly therecollection was a pleasant one. 

"Well, " he continued, "to make a long story short, I took advantage ofmy opportunity, and got his secret out of him by . .. Well never mind howI managed it. It is sufficient that I got it. And the consequence is Iknow all that is to be known. "

"That's all very well, but what became of the Frenchman? How do you knowthat he isn't back there again filling his pockets?"

"I don't think he is, " Kitwater replied slowly. "It put me to a lot ofinconvenience, and came just at the time when I was most anxious toleave. Besides it might have meant trouble. " He paused for a moment. "Asa matter of fact they brought it in 'suicide during temporary insanity, brought on by excessive drinking, ' and that got me over the difficulty. It must have been insanity, I think, for he had no reason for doing awaywith himself. It was proved that he had plenty of money left. What wasmore, Coddy gave evidence that, only the day before, he had told him hewas tired of life. "

Hayle looked at both with evident admiration. 

"Well, you two, taken together, beat cockfighting, " he saidenthusiastically. Then he added, "But what about the secret? What didyou get out of him?"

"Here it is, " said Kitwater, taking an old leather case from his pocket, and producing from it a small piece of parchment. "There's no writingupon it, but we have compared it with another plan that we happen tohave, and find that it squares exactly. "

He leant over Hayle's shoulder and pointed to a certain portion of thesketch. 

"That's the great temple, " he said; "and what the red dot means we aregoing to find out. "

"Well, suppose it is, what makes you send for me?" Hayle inquiredsuspiciously. 

"Because we must have another good man with us, " Kitwater replied. "I'mvery well, but you're better. Codd's head-piece is all right, but if itcomes to fighting, he might just as well be in Kensal Green. Isn't thatso, little man?"

Mr. Codd nodded his head. 

"I said, send for Hayle, " he remarked in his quiet little voice. "Kitsent and now you're here, and it's all right. "

"Codd speaks the truth, " said Kitwater. "Now what we have to do is toarrange the business part of the matter, and then to get away as quicklyas possible. "

The business portion of the matter was soon settled and Hayle wasthereupon admitted a member of the syndicate for the exploration of theancient town of Sengkor-Wat in the hinterland of Burmah. 

For the remainder of the day Hayle was somewhat more silent than usual. 

"If there's anything in their yarn it might be managed, " he said tohimself that night, when he was alone in his bedroom. "Kitwater isclever, I'll admit that, and Coddy is by no manner of means the fool hepretends to be. But I'm Gideon Hayle, and that counts for something. Yes, I think it might be managed. "

What it was he supposed might be effected he did not say, but from thesmile upon his face, it was evident that the thought caused himconsiderable satisfaction. 

Next day they set sail for Rangoon. 

PART II

The shadows of evening were slowly falling as the little party of whichKitwater, Codd, and Hayle, with two Burmen servants, were members, obtained their first view of the gigantic ruins of which they had comeso far in search. For many days they had been journeying through thejungle, now the prey of hope, now of despair. They had experiencedadventures by the score, though none of them were of sufficientimportance to be narrated here, and more than once they had come withina hair's-breadth of being compelled to retrace their steps. They rodeupon the small wiry ponies of the country, their servants clearing a waybefore them with their _parangs_ as they advanced. Their route, for themost part, lay through jungle, in places so dense that it was well-nighimpossible for them to force a way through it. It was as if nature weredoing her best to save the ancient city from the hand of the spoiler. Atlast, and so suddenly that it came upon them like a shock, they foundthemselves emerging from the jungle. Below them, in the valley, peeringup out of the forest, was all that remained of a great city, upon theruined temples of which the setting sun shone with weird effect. 

"At last, " said Hayle, bringing his pony to a standstill, and lookingdown upon the ruins. "Let us hope we shall have penetrated their secretbefore we are compelled to say good-bye to them again. "

"Hear, hear, to that, " said Kitwater; Septimus Codd, however, never saida word; the magic hand of the past was upon his heart, and was holdinghim spellbound. 

They descended the hill, and, when they had selected a suitable spot, decided to camp upon it for the night. 

Next morning they were up betimes; the excitement of the treasure-huntwas upon each man, and would not let him tarry. It would not be longnow, they hoped, before they would be able to satisfy themselves as tothe truth of the story they had been told, and of the value of the hopesin which they had put their trust. Having eaten their morning meal, theytook counsel together, examined the plan for the thousandth time, collected their weapons and tools, bade their servants keep a sharplookout, and then set off for the city. The morning sun sparkled uponthe dew, the birds and monkeys chattered at them from the jungle, whileabove them towered the myriad domes and sculptured spires of the ancientcity. It was a picture that once seen would never be forgotten. So far, however, not a sign of human life had they been able to discover;indeed, for all they knew to the contrary, they might be the only menwithin fifty miles of the place. 

Leaving the jungle behind them, they found themselves face to face witha curious stone bridge, spanning the lake or moat which surrounded thecity, and in which the lotus flower bloomed luxuriantly. When they hadcrossed the bridge, they stood in the precincts of the city itself. Oneither hand rose the ruins in all their solitary grandeur--palaces, temples, market-places, and houses in endless confusion; while, at theend of the bridge, and running to right and left as far as the eye couldreach, was a high wall, constructed of large stones, each one of whichwould have required the efforts of at least four men to lift it. These, with a few exceptions, were in an excellent state of preservation. Passing through the massive gateway the travellers found themselves inan open square, out of which streets branched off the right and left, while the jungle thrust in its inquisitive nose on every possibleoccasion. The silence was so impressive that the men found themselvesspeaking in whispers. Not a sound was to be heard save the fluttering ofbirds' wings among the trees, and the obscene chattering of the monkeysamong the leaves. From the first great square the street began graduallyto ascend; then another moat was crossed, and the second portion of thecity was reached. Here the buildings were larger, and the sculpture uponthe walls more impressive even than before. The same intense silence, however, hung over everything. In the narrower streets creepers trailedfrom side to side, almost shutting out the light, and adding a twilighteffect to the already sufficiently mysterious rooms and courtyards to beseen within. 

"This is by no means the most cheerful sort of place, " said Hayle toKitwater, as they passed down a paved street side by side. "Where do youexpect to find the great temple and the courtyard of the ThreeElephants' Heads?"

"Straight on, " said little Codd, who was behind, and had been comparingthe route they were following with the plan he held in his hand. 

As he spoke they entered another square, and saw before them a mightyflight of steps, worn into grooves in places by the thousands of feetthat had ascended and descended them in days gone by. At the top was asculptured gateway, finer than anything either of them had ever seen, and this they presently entered. Above them, clear of the trees, andtowering up into the blue, were the multitudinous domes and spires ofthe king's palace, to which the gateway above the steps was theprincipal entrance. Some of the spires were broken, some were coveredwith creepers, others were mutilated by time and by stress of weather, but the general effect was grand in the extreme. From courtyard tocourtyard they wandered, but without finding the particular place ofwhich they were in search. It was more difficult to discover than theyhad expected; indeed, they had walked many miles through desertedstreets, and the afternoon was well advanced, before a hail from Codd, who had gone on ahead of them, informed them that at last some sort ofsuccess had crowned their efforts. When they came up with him they foundthemselves in a courtyard somewhat larger than those they had previouslyexplored, the four corners of which were decorated with three unitedelephants' heads. 

"By the great poker we've got it at last, " cried Kitwater, in a voicethat echoed and reechoed through the silent halls. 

"And about time, too, " cried Hayle, upon whom the place was exercising amost curious effect. "If you've found it, show us your precioustreasure-chamber. "

"All in good time, my friend, all in good time, " said Kitwater. "Thingshave gone so smoothly with us hitherto, that we must look for a littleset-back before we've done. "

"We don't want any set-backs, " said Hayle. "What we want are the rubiesas big as pigeon's eggs, and sapphires, and gold, and then to get backto civilization as quick as may be. That's what's the matter with me. "

As I have already observed, the courtyard in which they were standingwas considerably larger than any they had yet entered. Like the others, however, it had fallen sadly to decay. The jungle had crept in at allpoints, and gorgeous creepers had wreathed themselves round the necks ofthe statues above the gateway. 

"I don't see any sign of steps, " said Hayle, when they had examined theplace in silence for some minutes. "I thought you said a flight of stonesteps led up to where the king's throne was placed?"

"Codd certainly read it so, " Kitwater answered, looking about him as ifhe did not quite realize the situation. "And how are we to know thatthere are not some steps here? They may be hidden. What do you think, little man?"

He turned to Codd, who was looking about him with eyes in which acurious light was shining. 

"Steps must be somewhere, " the latter replied. "We've got to findthem--but not to-night. Sun going down. Too late. "

This was undoubtedly true, and so, without more ado, but none the lessreluctantly, the three travellers retraced their steps to their campupon the hillside. Hayle was certainly not in a good temper. Themonotony of the long journey from civilization had proved too much forhim, and he was ready to take offence at anything. Fortunately, however, Kitwater was not of the same way of thinking, otherwise there wouldprobably have been trouble between them. 

Next morning they were up and had breakfasted before the sun was in thesky. Their meal at an end, they picked up their arms and tools, badetheir servants have a care of the camp, and then set off on their questonce more. There was a perceptible change, however, in their demeanours. A nervous excitement had taken possession of them, and it affected eachman in a different manner. Kitwater was suspicious, Hayle was morose, while little Codd repeatedly puckered up his mouth as if he were aboutto whistle, but no sound ever came from it. The sky overhead wasemerald-blue, the air was full of the sweetest perfumes, while birds ofthe most gorgeous plumage flew continually across their path. They hadno regard, however, for nature's beauties. The craving for wealth was intheir hearts, rendering them blind to everything else. They crossed thestone bridge, passed through the outer portion of the city, proceededover the second moat, and at last, with the familiarity of old friends, made their way up the steps towards the courtyard of the king's palace. 

"Now, my friends, listen to me, " said Kitwater, as he spoke throwingdown the tools he had been carrying, "what we have to do is tothoroughly sound the whole of this courtyard, inch by inch and stone bystone. We can't be wrong, for that this is the courtyard of the ThreeElephants' Heads, there can be no doubt. You take the right-hand side, "he went on addressing Hayle; "you, Coddy, must take the left. I'll trythe middle. If we don't hit it to-day we'll do so to-morrow, or the nextday, or the day after that. This is the place we were told about, and ifthe treasure is to be found anywhere, it will be here. For that reasonwe've got to set about the search as soon as possible! Now to work!"

Using the iron bars they had brought with them for the purpose, theybegan their task, bumping the iron down upon each individual stone inthe hope of eliciting the hollow sound that was to reveal the presenceof the treasure-chamber. With the regularity of automatons they paradedup and down the walled enclosure without speaking, until they hadthoroughly tested every single stone; no sort of success, however, rewarded their endeavours. 

"I expected as much, " said Hayle angrily, as he threw down the bar. "You've been humbugged, and our long journey is all undertaken fornothing. I was a fool ever to have listened to your nonsensical yarn. Imight have known it would have come to nothing. It's not the first timeI've been treasure-hunting, but I'll swear it shall be the last. I'vehad enough of these fooleries. "

A dangerous light was gathering in Kitwater's eyes. He moreover threwdown the iron bar as if in anticipation of trouble, and placed his fistsdefiantly on his hips. 

"If you are going to talk like that, my boy, " he began, with never aquaver in his voice, "it's best for us to understand each other straightoff. Once and for all let me tell you that I'll have none of yourbounce. Whether or not this business is destined to come to anything, you may rely upon one thing, and that is the fact that I did my best todo you a good turn by allowing you to come into it. There's anotherthing that calls for comment, and you can deny it if you will. It's afact that you've been grumbling and growling ever since we left Rangoon, and have made difficulties innumerable where you needn't have done so, and now, because you think the affair is going to turn out badly, youround upon me as if it were all a put-up job on my part, to rook you ofyour money. It's not the thing, Hayle, and I don't mind saying that Iresent it. "

"You may resent it or not, as you darned well please, " said Hayledoggedly, biting at the butt of his cigar as he spoke. "It don't mattera curse to me; you don't mean to tell me you think I'm fool enough tostand by and see myself----"

At that moment Codd, who had been away investigating on his own account, and had no idea of the others' quarrel, gave a shout of delight. He wasat the further end of the courtyard, at a spot where a dense mass ofcreeper had fallen, and now lay trailing upon the stones. The effectupon his companions was instantaneous. They abandoned their quarrelwithout another word, and picking up their crowbars hastened towardsthe spot where he was waiting for them. 

"What have you found, little man?" inquired Kitwater, as he approached. 

Mr. Codd, however, said nothing in reply, but beat with his bar upon thestone beneath him. There could be little or no doubt about the hollowsound that rewarded his endeavours. 

"We've got it, " cried Kitwater. "Bring the pickaxe, Hayle, and we'llsoon see what is underneath this precious stone. We may be at the heartof the mystery for all we know. "

In less time than it takes to tell Hayle had complied with the other'srequest, and was hard at work picking out the earth which held theenormous flagstone in its place. A state of mad excitement had takenhold of the men, and the veins stood out like whipcord upon Hayle'sforehead. It was difficult to say how many feet separated them from thetreasure that was to make them lords of all the earth. At last the stoneshowed signs of moving, and it was possible for Kitwater to insert hisbar beneath one corner. He did so, prized it up, and leant upon it withall his weight. It showed no sign of moving, however. The seal of Timewas set upon it, and it was not to be lightly disturbed. 

"Push your bar in here alongside of mine, Coddy, " said Kitwater at last. "I fancy we shall get it then. "

The little man did as he was directed, Kitwater and Hayle seconded hisefforts on the other side, and then, under the strain of their unitedexertions, the stone began to move slowly from its place. Little bylittle they raised it, putting all the strength they possessed into theoperation, until, at last, with one great effort they hurled itbackwards, and it fell with a crash upon the pavement behind them, revealing a dark, narrow hole, the bottom of which it was impossibleto see. 

[Illustration: "A DARK, NARROW HOLE, THE BOTTOM OF WHICH IT WASIMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. "]

"Now then, Gideon, my worthy friend, what have you got to say about thebusiness?" asked Kitwater, as he wiped the perspiration from his brow. "You pretended to doubt my story. Was there anything in the oldFrenchman's yarn after all. Were we wasting our time upon a fool'serrand when we set off to explore Sengkor-Wat?"

Hayle looked at him somewhat sheepishly. 

"No? no, " he said, "I am willing to admit that so far you have won thetrick. Let me down easily if you can. I can neither pass nor followsuite. I am right out of my reckoning. Now what do you propose to do?"

"Get one of those torches we brought with us, and find out what there isin that hole, " Kitwater answered. 

They waited while the latter went back to the camp, and when hereappeared, and had lighted the torch, they prepared to follow him downthe steps into the mysterious depths below. The former, they soondiscovered, were as solidly built as the rest of the palace, and wereabout thirty in number. They were, moreover, wet and slimy, and sonarrow that it was only possible for one man to descend them at once. When they reached the bottom they found themselves standing in a narrowpassage, the walls of which were composed of solid stone, in many placesfinely carved. The air was close, and from the fact that now and againbats dashed past them into the deeper darkness, they argued that theremust be some way of communicating with the open air at the further end. 

"This is just what the Frenchman told me, " said Kitwater, and his voiceechoed away along the passage like distant thunder. "He said we shouldfind a narrow corridor at the foot of the steps, and then the TreasureChamber at the further end. So far it looks all right. Let us move on, my friends. "

There was no need for him to issue such an invitation. They were morethan eager to follow him. 

Leaving the first room, or ante-chamber, as it might more properly becalled, they continued their way along the narrow passage which led fromit. The air was growing perceptibly closer every moment, while the lightof the torch reflected the walls on either side. Hayle wondered for amoment as he followed his leader, what would happen to them if theChinese, of whom the old Frenchman had spoken to Kitwater, shoulddiscover their presence in the ruins, and should replace the stone uponthe hole. In that case the treasure would prove of small value to them, for they would be buried alive. He did not allow his mind, however, todwell very long upon this subject, for Kitwater, who was pushing onahead with the torch, had left the passage, and was standing in a largeand apparently well vaulted chamber. Handsomely carved pillars supportedthe roof, the floor was well paved, while on either side there werereceptacles, not unlike the niches in the Roman catacombs, though forwhat purpose they were intended was not at first glance so easy todetermine. With hearts that beat tumultuously in their breasts, theyhastened to one of them to see what it contained. The niche in questionwas filled with strange-looking vessels, some like bowls, and others notunlike crucibles. The men almost clambered over each other in theirexcitement to see what they contained. It was as if their wholeexistence depended upon it; they could scarcely breathe for excitement. Every moment's delay was unspeakable agony. At last, however, thecoverings were withdrawn and the contents of the receptacles stoodrevealed. Two were filled with uncut gems, rubies and sapphires, otherscontained bar gold, and yet more contained gems, to which it wasscarcely possible in such a light to assign a name. One thing at leastwas certain. So vast was the treasure that the three men stoodtongue-tied with amazement at their good fortune. In their wildestdreams they had never imagined such luck, and now that this vasttreasure lay at their finger-ends, to be handled, to be made sure of, they were unable to realize the extent of their future happiness. Hayledived his hands into a bowl of uncut rubies, and having collected asmany as he could hold in each fist, turned to his companions. 

"Look here, " he cried, "it's the Bank of England in each hand. "

[Illustration: "'LOOK HERE, ' HE CRIED, 'IT'S THE BANK OF ENGLAND IN EACHHAND. '"]

His voice ended in a choke. Then Kitwater took up the tale. 

"I must get out of this or I shall go mad, " he muttered hoarsely. "Comelet us get back to the light. If I don't I shall die. "

Without more ado, like men who were drunk with the finest wines, theyfollowed him along the passage and up the steps into the open air. Theywere just in time to see the sun setting blood-red behind the jungle. His beauty, however, had no effect upon them, in all probability theywere regardless of him altogether, for with almost simultaneous sighs ofrelief they threw themselves down upon the flagstones of the courtyard, and set to work, with feverish earnestness, to overhaul the booty theyhad procured. All three were good judges of stones, and a very briefexamination was sufficient, even in the feeble evening light, to enablethem to see that they were not only gems of the first water, but alsostones of such a size as is seldom seen in these unregenerate days. 

"It's the biggest scoop on earth, " said Hayle, unconsciously echoing theexpression Kitwater had used to him in Singapore. "What's better, thereare hundreds more like them down below. I'll tell you what it is, myfriends, we're just the richest men on this earth at the present moment, and don't you forget it!"

In his excitement he shook hands wildly with his companions. Hisill-humour had vanished like breath off a razor, and now he was on thebest of terms not only with himself, but also with the world in general. 

"If I know anything about stones there are at least one hundred thousandpounds worth in this little parcel, " he said enthusiastically, "and whatis more, there is a million or perhaps two millions to be had for thetrouble of looking for them. What do you say if we go below again?"

"No! no!" said Kitwater, "it's too late. We'd better be getting back tothe camp as soon as may be. "

"Very well, " Hayle replied reluctantly. 

They accordingly picked up their iron bars and replaced the stone thatcovered the entrance to the subterranean passage. 

"I don't like leaving it, " said Hayle, "it don't seem to me to be safe, somehow. Think what there is down there. Doesn't it strike you that itwould be better to fill our pockets while we've the chance? Who knowswhat might happen before we can come again?"

"Nonsense, " said Kitwater. "Who do you think is going to rob us of it?What's the use of worrying about it? In the morning we'll come back andfill up our bags, and then clear out of the place and trek forcivilization as if the devil and all were after us. Just think, my lads, what there will be to divide. "

"A million apiece, at least, " said Hayle rapturously, and then in anawed voice he added, as if he were discomfited by his own significance, "I never thought to be worth a quarter of that. Somehow it doesn't seemas if it can be real. "

"It's quite real, " said Mr. Codd, as he sprinkled some dry dust roundthe crack of the stone to give it an appearance of not having beendisturbed. "There's no doubt of it. "

When he had finished they picked up their tools and set off on theirreturn journey to the camp. The sun had disappeared behind the junglewhen they left the courtyard of the Three Elephants' Heads and ascendedthe stone steps towards the inner moat. They crossed the bridge, andentered the outer city in silence. The place was very dreary at thathour of the day, and to Codd, who was of an imaginative turn of mind, itseemed as if faces out of the long deserted past were watching him fromevery house. His companions, however, were scarcely so impressionable. They were gloating over the treasure they had won for themselves, andone, at least, was speculating as to how he should spend his share. Suddenly Hayle, who was looking down a side street, uttered anexclamation of surprise. 

"Did you see that?" he inquired of Kitwater. Then, without waiting for areply, he dived into the nearest ruin and disappeared from view. 

"What on earth is the matter with him?" inquired Kitwater of Codd. "Hashe gone mad?"

Codd only shook his head. Hayle's doings were more often than not anenigma to him. Presently, however, the runaway made his appearancebefore them. His face was flushed and he breathed heavily. Apparently hehad been running, and for some distance. 

"Didn't you see him?" he inquired of his companions in some surprise. 

"See who?" asked Kitwater, with elevated eyebrows. "Who do you think yousaw?"

"A man, " Hayle replied. "I am ready to take my oath I saw him cross thatnarrow street back yonder. "

"Was it one of our own men do you think?" said Codd, referring to thetwo Burmen they had brought with them. 

"Not a bit of it, " Hayle replied. "I tell you, Kitwater, I am as sureas I am of anything that the man I saw was a Chinaman. "

"Gammon, " said Kitwater. "There isn't a Chinaman within fifty miles ofthe ruins. You are unduly excited. You'll be seeing a regiment of ScotsGuards presently if you are not careful. "

"I don't care what you say, it was a man I saw, " the other answered. "Good Heavens! won't you believe me, when I say that I saw his pigtail?"

"Believe you, of course I will, " replied Kitwater good-humouredly. "It'sa pity you didn't catch hold of him by it, however. No, no, Gid, youtake my word for it, there are no Chinamen about here. What do youthink, Codd?"

Mr. Codd appeared to have no opinion, for he did not reply. 

By this time they had crossed the last bridge and had left the citybehind them. The jungle was lulling itself to sleep, and drowsycroonings sounded on every hand. So certain was Hayle that he had notbeen mistaken about the man he declared he had seen, that he kept hiseyes well open to guard against a surprise. He did not know what clumpof bamboo might contain an enemy, and, in consequence, his right handwas kept continually in his pocket in order not to lose the grip of therevolver therein contained. At last they reached the top of the hill andapproached the open spot where their camp was situated. 

"What did I tell you?" said Kitwater, as he looked about the camp andcould discover no traces of their two native servants. "It was one ofour prowling rascals you saw, and when he comes back I'll teach him tocome spying on us. If I know anything of the rattan, he won't doit again. "

Hayle shrugged his shoulders. While the fact that their servants werenot at the camp to anticipate their return was certainly suspicious, hewas still as convinced as ever that the man he had seen slipping throughthe ruins was no Burman, but a true son of the Celestial Empire. 

Worn out by the excitement of the day, Kitwater anathematized theservants for not having been there to prepare the evening meal, butwhile he and Hayle wrangled, Mr. Codd had as usual taken the matter intohis own hands, and, picking up a cooking-pot, had set off in thedirection of the stream, whence they drew their supply of water. He hadnot proceeded very far, however, before he uttered a cry and camerunning back to the camp. There was a scared expression upon his face ashe rejoined his companions. 

"They've not run away, " he cried, pointing in the direction whence hehad come. "They're dead!"

"Dead?" cried Kitwater and Hayle together. Then the latter added, "Whatdo you mean by that?"

"What I say, " Codd replied. "They're both lying in the jungle backthere with their throats cut. "

"Then I was right after all, " Hayle found time to put in. "Come, Kit, let us go and see. There's more than we bargained for at the back ofall this. "

They hurried with Codd to the spot where he had discovered the bodies, to find that his tale was too true. Their two unfortunate servants wereto be seen lying one on either side of the track, both dead andshockingly mutilated. Kitwater knelt beside them and examined themmore closely. 

"Chinese, " he said laconically. Then after a pause he continued, "It's agood thing for us we had the foresight to take our rifles with usto-day, otherwise we should have lost them for a certainty. Now we shallhave to keep our eyes open for trouble. It won't be long in coming, markmy words. "

"You don't think they watched us at work in that courtyard, do you?"asked Hayle anxiously, as they returned to the camp. "If that's so, they'll have every atom of the remaining treasure, and we shall bedone for. "

He spoke as if until that moment they had received nothing. 

"It's just possible they may have done so, of course, " said Kitwater, "but how are we to know? We couldn't prevent them, for we don't know howmany of them there may be. That fellow you saw this evening may onlyhave been placed there to spy upon our movements. Confound it all, Iwish we were a bigger party. "

"It's no use wishing that, " Hayle returned, and then after a pause headded--"Fortunately we hold a good many lives in our hands, and what'smore, we know the value of our own. The only thing we can do is towatch, watch, and watch, and, if we are taken by surprise, we shall havenobody to thank for it but ourselves. Now if you'll stand sentry, Coddyand I will get tea. "

They set to work, and the meal was in due course served and eaten. Afterwards Codd went on guard, being relieved by Hayle at midnight. Eversince they had made the ghastly discovery in the jungle, the latter hadbeen more silent even than the gravity of the situation demanded. Now hesat, nursing his rifle, listening to the mysterious voices of thejungle, and thinking as if for dear life. Meanwhile his companions sleptsoundly on, secure in the fact that he was watching over them. 

At last Hayle rose to his feet. 

"It's my only chance, " he said to himself, as he went softly across towhere Kitwater was lying. "It must be now or never!"

Kneeling beside the sleeping man, he felt for the packet of preciousstones they had that day obtained. Having found it he transferred it tohis own pocket, and then returned to his former position as quietly ashe had come. Then, having secured as much of their store of ammunitionas he could conveniently carry, together with a supply of foodsufficient to last him for several days, he deserted his post, abandonedhis friends, and disappeared into the jungle!

PART III

The sun was slowly sinking behind the dense wall of jungle which hemsin, on the southern side, the frontier station of Nampoung. In the riverbelow there is a Ford, which has a distinguished claim on fame, inasmuchas it is one of the gateways from Burmah into Western China. This Fordis guarded continually by a company of Sikhs, under the command of anEnglish officer. To be candid, it is not a post that is much soughtafter. Its dullness is extraordinary. True, one can fish there frommorning until night, if one is so disposed; and if one has the goodfortune to be a botanist, there is an inexhaustible field open forstudy. It is also true that Nampoung is only thirty miles or so, as thecrow flies, from Bhamo, and when one has been in the wilds, and out oftouch of civilization for months at a time, Bhamo is by no means a placeto be despised. So thought Gregory, of the 123rd Burmah Regiment, as hethrew his line into the pool below him. 

"It's worse than a dog's life, " he said to himself, as he looked at theFord a hundred yards or so to his right, where, at the moment, hissubaltern was engaged levying toll upon some Yunnan merchants who werecarrying cotton on pack-mules into China. After that he glanced behindhim at the little cluster of buildings on the hill, and groaned oncemore. "I wonder what they are doing in England, " he continued. "Trout-fishing has just begun, and I can imagine the dear old Governorat the Long Pool, rod in hand. The girls will stroll down in theafternoon to find out what sport he has had, and they'll walk homeacross the Park with him, while the Mater will probably meet them halfway. And here am I in this God-forsaken hole with nothing to do but tokeep an eye on that Ford there. Bhamo is better than this; Mandalay isbetter than Bhamo, and Rangoon is better than either. Chivvying _dakus_is paradise compared with this sort of thing. Anyhow, I'm tiredof fishing. "

He began to take his rod to pieces preparatory to returning to hisquarters on the hill. He had just unshipped the last joint, when hebecame aware that one of his men was approaching him. He inquired hisbusiness, and was informed in return that Dempsey, his sub, would beglad to see him at the Ford. Handing his rod to the man he set off inthe direction of the crossing in question, to become aware, as heapproached it, of a disreputable figure propped up against a tree on thenearer bank. 

"What's the matter, Dempsey?" he inquired. "What on earth have you gotthere, man?"

"Well, that's more than I can say, " the other replied. "He's evidentlya white man, and I fancy an Englishman. At home we should call him ascarecrow. He turned up from across the Ford just now, and tumbled downin the middle of the stream like a shot rabbit. Never saw such a thingbefore. He's not a pretty sight, is he?"

"Poor devil, " said Gregory. "He seems to be on his last legs. I wonderwho the deuce he is, and what brought him into this condition. "

[Illustration: "'POOR DEVIL, ' SAID GREGORY. 'HE SEEMS TO BE ON HIS LASTLEGS. '"]

"I've searched, and there's nothing about to tell us, " said Dempsey. "What do you think we had better do with him?"

"Get him up the hill, " said his superior, without hesitation. "When he'sa bit stronger we'll have his story out of him. I'll bet a few years'pay it will be interesting. "

A file of men were called, and the mysterious stranger was carried up tothe residence of the English officers. It was plain to the leastobservant that he was in a very serious condition. Such clothes as hepossessed were in rags; his face was pinched with starvation, andmoreover he was quite unconscious. When his bearers, accompanied by thetwo Englishmen, reached the cluster of huts, he was carried to a smallroom at the end of the officers' bungalow and placed upon the bed. Aftera little brandy had been administered, he recovered consciousness andlooked about him. Heaving a sigh of relief, he inquired where hemight be. 

"You are at Nampoung, " said Gregory, "and you ought to thank your starsthat you are not in Kingdom Come. If ever a man was near it, you havebeen. We won't ask you for your story now; however, later on, you shall_bukh_ to your heart's content. Now I am going to give you something toeat. You look as if you want it badly enough. "

Gregory looked at Dempsey and made a sign, whereupon the other withdrew, to presently return carrying a bowl of soup. The stranger drank itravenously, and then lay back and closed his eyes once more. He wouldhave been a clever man who could have recognized in the emaciated beingupon the bed, the spruce, well-cared-for individual who was known to theHotel of the Three Desires in Singapore as Gideon Hayle. 

"You'd better rest a while now, " said Gregory, "and then perhaps you'llfeel equal to joining us at mess, or whatever you like to call it. "

"Thanks very much, " the man replied, with the conventional utterance ofan English gentleman, which was not lost upon his audience. "I hope Ishall feel up to it. "

"Whoever the fellow is, " said Gregory, as they passed along the verandaha few minutes later, "he has evidently seen better days. Poor beggar, Iwonder where he's been, and what he has been up to?"

"We shall soon find out, " Dempsey answered. "All he said when we fishedhim out of the water was '_at last_, ' and then he fainted clean away. Iam not more curious than my neighbours, but I don't mind admitting thatI am anxious to hear what he has to say for himself. Talk about Rip VanWinkle, why, he is not in it with this fellow. He could give him pointsand beat him hollow. "

An hour later the stranger was so far recovered as to be able to joinhis hosts at their evening meal. Between them they had managed to fithim out with a somewhat composite set of garments. He had shaved off hisbeard, had reduced his hair to something like order, and in consequencehad now the outward resemblance at least of a gentleman. 

"Come, that's better, " said Gregory as he welcomed him. "I don't knowwhat your usual self may be like, but you certainly have more theappearance of a man, and less that of a skeleton than when we firstbrought you in. You must have been pretty hard put to it out yonder. "

The recollection of all he had been through was so vivid, that the manshuddered at the mere thought of it. 

"I wouldn't go through it again for worlds, " he said. "You don't knowwhat I've endured. "

"Trading over the border alone?" Gregory inquired. 

The man shook his head. 

"Tried to walk across from Pekin, " he said, "_viâ_ Szechuen and Yunnan. Nearly died of dysentery in Yunnan city. While I was there my servantsdeserted me, taking with them every halfpenny I possessed. Beingsuspected by the Mandarins, I was thrown into prison, managed eventuallyto escape, and so made my way on here. I thought to-day was going toprove my last. "

"You have had a hard time of it, by Jove, " said Dempsey; "but you'vemanaged to come out of it alive. And now where are you going?"

"I want, if possible, to get to Rangoon, " the other replied. "Then Ishall ship for England as best as I can. I've had enough of China tolast me a lifetime. "

From that moment the stranger did not refer again to his journey. He wassingularly reticent upon this point, and feeling that perhaps therecollection of all he had suffered might be painful to him, the two mendid not press him to unburden himself. 

"He's a strange sort of fellow, " said Gregory to Dempsey, later in theevening, when the other had retired to rest. "If he has walked fromPekin here, as he says, he's more than a little modest about it. I'll bebound his is a funny story if only he would condescend to tell it. "

They would have been more certain than ever of this fact had they beenable to see their guest at that particular moment. In the solitude ofhis own room he had removed a broad leather belt from round his waist. From the pocket of this belt he shook out upwards of a hundred rubiesand sapphires of extraordinary size. He counted them carefully, replacedthem in the belt, and then once more secured the latter about his waist. 

"At last I am safe, " he muttered to himself, "but it was a closeshave--a very close shave. I wouldn't do that journey again for all themoney the stones are worth. No! not for twice the amount. "

Once more the recollection of his sufferings rose so vividly before himthat he could not suppress a shudder. Then he arranged themosquito-curtains of his bed, and laid himself down upon it. It was notlong before he was fast asleep. 

Before he went to his own quarters, Gregory looked in upon the strangerto find him sleeping heavily, one arm thrown above his head. 

"Poor beggar!" said the kind-hearted Englishman, as he looked down athim. "One meets some extraordinary characters out here. But I think he'sthe strangest that has come into my experience. "

The words had scarcely left his lips before the stranger was sitting upin bed with a look of abject terror in his eyes. The sweat of a livingfear was streaming down his face. Gregory ran to him and placed his armabout him. 

"What's the matter?" he asked. "Pull yourself together, man, there'snothing for you to fear here. You're quite safe. "

The other looked at him for a moment as if he did not recognize him. Then, taking in the situation, he gave an uneasy laugh. 

"I have had such an awful nightmare, " he said. "I thought the Chinesewere after me again. Lord! how thankful I am it's not true. "

Next morning George Bertram, as he called himself, left Nampoung forBhamo, with Gregory's cheque for five hundred rupees in his pocket. 

"You must take it, " said that individual in reply to the other'shalf-hearted refusal of the assistance. "Treat it as a loan if you like. You can return it to me when you are in better circumstances. I assureyou I don't want it. We can't spend money out here. "

Little did he imagine when he made that offer, the immense wealth whichthe other carried in the belt that encircled his waist. Needless to sayHayle said nothing to him upon the subject. He merely pocketed thecheque with an expression of his gratitude, promising to repay it assoon as he reached London. As a matter of fact he did so, and to thisday, I have no doubt, Gregory regards him as a man of the mostscrupulous and unusual integrity. 

Two days later the wanderer reached Bhamo, that important military poston the sluggish Irrawaddy. His appearance, thanks to Gregory andDempsey's kind offices, was now sufficiently conventional to attractlittle or no attention, so he negotiated the Captain's cheque, fittedhimself out with a few other things that he required, and then set offfor Mandalay. From Mandalay he proceeded as fast as steam could take himto Rangoon, where, after the exercise of some diplomacy, he secured apassage aboard a tramp steamer bound for England. 

When the Shweydagon was lost in the evening mist, and the steamer hadmade her way slowly down the sluggish stream with the rice-fields oneither side, Hayle went aft and took his last look at the land to whichhe was saying good-bye. 

"A quarter of a million if a halfpenny, " he said, "and as soon as theyare sold and the money is in my hands, the leaf shall be turned, and mylife for the future shall be all respectability. "

PART IV

Two months had elapsed since the mysterious traveller from China hadleft the lonely frontier station at Nampoung. In outward appearance itwas very much the same as it had been then. The only differenceconsisted in the fact that Captain Gregory and his subaltern Dempsey, having finished their period of enforced exile, had returned to Bhamo tojoin the main body of their regiment. A Captain Handiman and a subalternnamed Grantham had taken their places, and were imitating them inasmuchas they spent the greater portion of their time fishing and complainingof the hardness of their lot. It was the more unfortunate in their casethat they did not get on very well together. The fact of the matter wasHandiman was built on very different lines to Gregory, his predecessor;he gave himself airs, and was fond of asserting his authority. Inconsequence the solitary life at the Ford sat heavily upon both men. 

One hot afternoon, Grantham, who was a keen sportsman, took his gun, and, accompanied by a wiry little Shan servant, departed into the jungleon _shikar_ thoughts intent. He was less successful than usual; indeed, he had proceeded fully three miles before he saw anything worth emptyinghis gun at. In the jungle the air was as close as a hothouse, and theperspiration ran down his face in streams. 

"What an ass I was to come out!" he said angrily to himself. "This heatis unbearable. "

At that moment a crashing noise reached him from behind. Turning todiscover what occasioned it, he was just in time to see a large boarcross the clearing and disappear into the bamboos on the further side. Taking his rifle from the little Shan he set off in pursuit. It was noeasy task, for the jungle in that neighbourhood was so dense that it waswell nigh impossible to make one's way through it. At last, however, they hit upon a dried up _nullah_, and followed it along, listening asthey went to the progress the boar was making among the bamboos on theirright. Presently they sighted him, crossing an open space a couple ofhundred yards or so ahead of them. On the further side he stopped andbegan to feed. This was Grantham's opportunity, and, sighting his rifle, he fired. The beast dropped like a stone, well hit, just behind theshoulder. The report, however, had scarcely died away before the littleShan held up his hand to attract Grantham's attention. 

"What is it?" the other inquired. 

Before the man had time to reply his quick ear caught the sound of afaint call from the jungle on the other side of the _nullah_. Withoutdoubt it was the English word _help_, and, whoever the man might be whocalled, it was plain that he was in sore straits. 

"What the deuce does it mean?" said Grantham, half to himself and halfto the man beside him. "Some poor devil got lost in the jungle, Isuppose? I'll go and have a look. "

Having climbed the bank of the _nullah_, he was about to proceed in thedirection whence the cry had come, when he became aware of the mostextraordinary figure he had ever seen in his life approaching him. Theappearance Hayle had presented when he had turned up at the Ford twomonths before was nothing compared with that of this individual. He wasa small man, not more than five feet in height. His clothes were inrags, a grizzly beard grew in patches upon his cheeks and chin, whilehis hair reached nearly to his shoulders. His face was pinched until itlooked more like that of a skeleton than a man. Grantham stood andstared at him, scarcely able to believe his eyes. 

"Good Heavens, " he said to himself, "what a figure! I wonder where thebeggar hails from?" Then addressing the man, he continued, "Are you anEnglishman, or what are you?"

The man before him, however, did not reply. He placed his finger on hislips, and turning, pointed in the direction he had come. 

"Either he doesn't understand, or he's dumb, " said Grantham. "But it'squite certain that he wants me to follow him somewhere. "

Turning to the man again, he signed to him to proceed, whereupon thelittle fellow hobbled painfully away from the _nullah_ in the directionwhence he had appeared. On and on he went until he at length came to astandstill at the foot of a hill, where a little stream came splashingdown in a miniature cascade from the rocks above. Then Grantham realizedthe meaning of the little man's action. Stretched out beside a rock wasthe tall figure of a man. Like his companion, he presented a miserableappearance. His clothes, if clothes they could be called, were in rags, his hair was long and snowy white, matching his beard, which descendedto within a few inches of his waist. His eyes were closed, and for amoment Grantham thought he was dead. This was not the case, however, forupon his companion approaching him he held out his hand and inquiredwhether he had discovered the man who had fired the shot?

To Grantham's surprise the other made no reply in words, but, taking hisfriend's hand he made some mysterious movements upon it with hisfingers, whereupon the latter raised himself to a sitting position. 

"My friend tells me that you are an Englishman, " he said in a voice thatshook with emotion. "I'm glad we have found you. I heard your rifle shotand hailed you. We are in sore distress, and have been through suchadventures and such misery as no man would believe. I have poisoned myfoot, and am unable to walk any further. As you can see for yourself Iam blind, while my companion is dumb. "

This statement accounted for the smaller man's curious behaviour and theother's closed eyes. 

"You have suffered indeed, " said Grantham pityingly. "But how did it allcome about?"

"We were traders, and we fell into the hands of the Chinese, " the tallerman answered. "With their usual amiability they set to work to tortureus. My companion's tongue they cut out at the roots, while, as I havesaid, they deprived me of my sight. After that they turned us loose togo where we would. We have wandered here, there, and everywhere, livingon what we could pick up, and dying a thousand deaths every day. Itwould have been better if we had died outright--but somehow we've comethrough. Can you take us to a place where we can procure food? We'vebeen living on jungle fruit for an eternity. My foot wants looking topretty badly, too. "

"We'll do all we can for you, " said Grantham. "That's if we can get youdown to the Ford, which is about five miles away. "

"You'll have to carry me then, for I'm too far gone to walk. "

"I think it can be managed, " said Grantham. "At any rate we'll try. "

Turning to the little Shan he despatched him with a message to Handiman, and when the other had disappeared, knelt down beside the tall man andset to work to examine his injured foot. There could be no doubt that itwas in a very serious condition. Tramping through the jungle he hadmanaged to poison it, and had been unable to apply the necessaryremedies. Obtaining some water from the stream Grantham bathed ittenderly, and then bound it up as well as he could with hishandkerchief. 

"That's the best I can do for you for the present, " he said. "We mustleave it as it is, and, when we get you to the station, we will see whatelse can be managed. "

He looked up and saw the little man's eyes watched him intently. Therewas a look of almost dog-like affection in them for his companion, thatwent to the young soldier's heart. 

"By Jove, " he said, "I'm sorry for you fellows. You must have sufferedagonies. The Chinese are devils. But yours is not the first case we haveheard of. We only come up here for a month at a time, but the man werelieved told us a strange tale about another poor beggar who came intothe station some two months ago. He had been wandering in the jungle, and was nearly at death's-door. "

The blind man gave a start, while the little man seized his hand andmade a number of rapid movements upon it with his fingers. 

"My friend wants to know if you are aware of that man's name?" he said. "We lost a companion, and he thinks that he may be the man. ForHeaven's sake tell us what you know. You have no idea what it meansto us. "

"Since you are so interested in him I am sorry to have to say that I donot know very much. You see he had very little to do with us. As I havesaid, he turned up while our predecessors were here. From what I heardabout him from Gregory, he gathered that he was a tall, thin man, whohad come through from Pekin by way of Yunnan. "

"Are you sure it was from Yunnan?"

"That's what they told me, " said Grantham. "Since then I have heard thathe was on his way from Pekin to Burmah, and that his coolies had robbedhim of all he possessed. "

"You don't happen to remember his name, I suppose!"

The blind man tried to ask the question calmly, but his voice failedhim. 

"As far as I remember his name was George Bertram, " Grantham answered. 

There was a pause for a few seconds, after which the blind man beganagain--

"He didn't tell you, I suppose, whether he had any money about him?"

"He hadn't a red cent, " said Grantham. "The Chinese cleared him out. They lent him the money to get to Rangoon. I happen to know that becausehe cashed my friend's cheque in Bhamo. "

There was another and somewhat longer pause. 

"You did not hear whether he had any precious stones in his possession?"

"Good gracious, no! From what they told me I gathered that the manhadn't a halfpenny in the world. Why should he have been likely to havehad jewels? In point of fact I'm sure he hadn't, for I was given tounderstand he was about as woe-begone a customer as could be foundanywhere. "

The blind man uttered a heavy sigh, and sank back to his former positionupon the ground. 

An hour and a half later, just as the shadows of evening were drawingin, a party of Sikhs put in an appearance, bringing with them a dhooly, in which they placed the injured man. It was almost dark when theyreached the station, where Grantham's superior officer was awaitingtheir coming. 

"What on earth's the meaning of this?" he asked, as the _cortège_ drewup before the bungalow. "Who are these men? And where did youfind them?"

Grantham made his report, and then the wounded man was lifted out andcarried to a hut at the rear of the main block of buildings. The littleman watched everything with an eagle eye, as if he were afraid some evilmight be practised upon his companion. When the blind man had beenplaced on a bed, and his foot attended to as well as the rough surgeryof the place would admit, Grantham did something he had not alreadydone, and that was to ask them their names. 

"My name is Kitwater, " said the blind man, "and the name of my friendhere is Codd--Septimus Codd. He's one of the best and staunchest littlefellows in the world. I don't know whether our names will convey much toyou, but such as they are you are welcome to them. As a matter of fact, they are all we have with which to requite your hospitality. "

Why it should have been so I cannot say, but it was evident from thefirst that Captain Handiman did not believe the account the refugeesgave of themselves. He was one of that peculiar description of personswho have an idea that it adds to their dignity not to believe anythingthat is told them, and he certainly acted up to it on everypossible occasion. 

"There's more in the case than meets the eye, " he said suspiciously, "and I fancy, if only we could see the bottom of it, we should discoverthat your two _protégés_ are as fine a pair of rascals as could be foundon the Continent of Asia. "

"I don't know anything about that, " Grantham replied. "I only know thatthey were a miserable couple, and that I did the best I could for them. You wouldn't have had me leave them in the jungle, surely?"

"I am not aware I have said so, " the other answered stiffly. "The onlything I object to is your treating them as if they were martyrs, when inall probability they deserve all the punishment they have received. "

Grantham was too wise to carry the argument any further. He knew thatwhen Handiman was in his present humour the best thing to do was toleave him alone in it. He accordingly returned to the hut where the twomen were domiciled, and attended to their comfort as far as lay in hispower. His heart had been touched by their misery. He did not give as areason for the trouble he took, the fact that the face of the elder manreminded him of his own venerable father, the worthy old Somersetshirevicar; it was a fact, nevertheless. For a week the unfortunate couplewere domiciled at the Ford, and during that time Grantham attended totheir wants with the assiduity of a blood relation. Meanwhile Handimanscoffed and bade him take heed for his valuables, lest his new-foundfriends should appropriate them. He did not believe in honest gratitude, he declared, particularly where homeless wanderers in the Burmese junglewere concerned. At last, however, they were so far recovered as to beable to proceed on their way once more. 

"We have to thank you for your lives, sir, " said Kitwater to Granthamwhen the time came for them to say good-bye to the Ford. "Had it notbeen for you we would probably be dead men now. I don't know whether weshall ever be able to repay your kindness, that is with Allah, but ifthe opportunity should ever arise you may be sure we will not neglectit. Whatever we may be now, you may take it that we were gentlemen once. There's just one favour I should like to ask of you, sir, beforewe part!"

"What is it?" Grantham inquired. 

"I want you, sir, to give me a letter of introduction to the gentlemanin your regiment, who looked after the stranger you told me of, when hecame here from out of China. I've got a sort of notion in my head thateven if he is not our friend, that is to say the man we are searchingfor, he may happen to know something of him. "

"I will give you the letter with pleasure, " Grantham replied. "I am sureGregory will be only too pleased to help you as far as lies inhis power. "

The letter was accordingly written and handed to Kitwater, who stowed itaway in his pocket as if it were a priceless possession. Then, when theyhad bade their protector farewell, they in their turn set off along thetrack that Hayle had followed two months before, and in due coursearrived at Bhamo. Here they presented the letter they had obtained toCaptain Charles Pauncefort Gregory, who, as may be supposed, received itwith manifest astonishment. 

"Well, " said he, "of all the stories I have heard since I have been inthe East, this is the most extraordinary. I thought that other chap wasabout as unfortunate a beggar as could well be, but you beat him hollowat every turn. Now, look here, before I go any further, I must have myfriend with me. He is the man who discovered the other chap, and I'msure he would like to hear your story. "

Dempsey was accordingly summoned, and his wonderment was as great as hisfriend's had been. 

"Now, " said Gregory, when Dempsey had been made familiar with theother's story, "what is it you want to know about the man we picked up?Ask your questions, and we'll do the best we can to answer them. "

In reply to Kitwater's questions, Gregory and Dempsey described, as faras they were able, the appearance of the man whom they had helped. Theschedule was in a great measure satisfactory, but not altogether. Therewere so many English in Burmah who were tall, and who had dark eyes andbroad shoulders. Little Codd leant towards his companion and taking hishand made some signs upon it. 

"That's so, my little man, " said Kitwater, nodding his head approvingly. "You've hit the nail on the head. " Then turning to Gregory, hecontinued, "Perhaps, sir, you don't happen to remember whether he hadany particular mark upon either of his wrists?"

Gregory replied that he had not noticed anything extraordinary, butDempsey was by no means so forgetful?

"Of course he had, " he answered. "I remember noticing it for the firsttime when I pulled him out of the Ford, and afterwards when he was inbed. An inch or so above his left wrist he had a tattooed snakeswallowing his own tail. It was done in blue and red ink, and was asnice a piece of work as ever I have seen. "

"I thank you, sir, " Kitwater replied, "you've hit it exactly. By theliving thunder he's our man after all. Heaven bless you for the news youhave given us. It puts new life into me. We'll find him yet, Coddy, myboy. I thank you, sir, again and again. "

He held out his hand, which Dempsey felt constrained to shake. The manwas trembling with excitement. 

"I tell you, sir, " he continued, "that you don't know how we loved thatman. If it takes the whole of our lives, and if we have to tramp thewhole world over to do it, we'll find him yet!"

"And if I'm not mistaken it will be a bad day for him when you do findhim, " put in Gregory, who had been an observant spectator of the scene. "Why should you hate him so?"

"How do you know that we _do_ hate him?" Kitwater asked, turning hissightless face in the direction whence the other's voice proceeded. "Hate him, why should we hate him? We have no grudge against him, Coddy, my boy, have we?"

Mr. Codd shook his head gravely. No! they certainly had no grudge. Nothing more was to be gleaned from them. Whatever their connection withGeorge Bertram or Gideon Hayle may have been, they were not going tocommit themselves. When they had inquired as to his movements afterleaving Bhamo, they dropped the subject altogether, and thanking theofficers for the courtesy shown them, withdrew. 

Their manifest destitution, and the misery they had suffered, hadtouched the kindly white residents of that far off place, and asubscription was raised for them, resulting in the collection of anamount sufficient to enable them to reach Rangoon in comparativecomfort. When they arrived at that well-known seaport, they visited theresidence of a person with whom it was plain they were well acquainted. The interview was presumably satisfactory on both sides, for when theyleft the house Kitwater squeezed Codd's hand, saying as he did so--

"We'll have him yet, Coddy, my boy, mark my words, we'll have him yet. He left in the _Jemadar_, and he thinks we are lying dead in the jungleat this moment. It's scarcely his fault that we are not, is it? But whenwe get hold of him, we'll--well, we'll let him see what we can do, won'twe, old boy? He stole the treasure and sneaked away, abandoning us toour fate. In consequence I shall never see the light again; and you'llnever speak to mortal man. We've Mr. Gideon Hayle to thank for that, andif we have to tramp round the world to do it, if we have to hunt forhim in every country on the face of the earth, we'll repay the debtwe owe him. "

Mr. Codd's bright little eyes twinkled in reply. Then they shook handssolemnly together. It would certainly prove a bad day for Gideon Hayleshould he ever have the ill luck to fall into their hands. 

Two days later they shipped aboard the mail-boat as steerage passengersfor England. They had been missionaries in China, so it was rumoured onboard, and their zeal had been repaid by the cruellest torture. On aSunday in the Indian Ocean, Kitwater held a service on deck, which wasattended by every class. He preached an eloquent sermon on the laboursof the missionaries in the Far East, and from that moment became sopopular on board that, when the steamer reached English waters, asubscription was taken up on behalf of the sufferers, which resulted inthe collection of an amount sufficient to help them well on their way toLondon as soon as they reached Liverpool. 

"Now, " said Kitwater, as they stood together at the wharf with thepitiless English rain pouring down upon them, wetting them to the skin, "what we have to do is to find Gideon Hayle as soon as possible. "

CHAPTER I

It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in ninecases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career heoriginally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one. That mysterious power, "force of circumstances, " is doubtlessresponsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument couldbe found than my own case. I believe my father intended that I shouldfollow the medical profession, while my mother hoped I would enter theChurch. My worthy uncle, Clutterfield, the eminent solicitor ofLincoln's Inn Fields, offered me my Articles, and would possibly haveeventually taken me into partnership. But I would have none of thesethings. My one craving was for the sea. If I could not spend my lifeupon salt water, existence would have no pleasure for me. My fatherthreatened, my mother wept, Uncle Clutterfield prophesied all sorts ofdisasters, but I remained firm. 

"Very well, " said my father, when he realized that further argument washopeless, "since you must go to sea, go to sea you certainly shall. Butyou mustn't blame me if you find that the life is not exactly what youanticipate, and that you would prefer to find yourself on dry landonce more. "

I willingly gave this promise, and a month later left Liverpool as anapprentice on the clipper ship _Maid of Normandy_. Appropriately enoughthe captain's name was Fairweather, and he certainly was a character inhis way. In fact the whole ship's company were originals. Had my fathersearched all England through he could not have discovered a set of men, from the captain to the cook's mate, who would have been bettercalculated to instil in a young man's heart a distaste for FatherNeptune and his oceans. In the number of the various books of the sea Ihave encountered, was one entitled, _A Floating Hell_. When reading it Ihad not expected to have the misfortune to be bound aboard a vessel ofthis type. It was my lot, however, to undergo the experience. We carriedthree apprentices, including myself, each of whom had paid a large sumfor the privilege. I was the youngest. The eldest was the son of acountry parson, a mild, decent lad, who eventually deserted and became ahouse-painter in the South Island of New Zealand. The next was washedoverboard when we were rounding the Horn on our homeward voyage. Poorlad, when all was said and done he could not have been much worse off, for his life on board was a disgrace to what is sometimes erroneouslycalled, "Human Nature. " In due course, as we cleared for San Francisco, and long before we crossed the Line, I was heartily tired of the sea. Inthose days, few years ago as it is, sailors were not so well protectedeven as they are now, and on a long voyage aboard a sailing ship it waspossible for a good deal to happen that was not logged, and much ofwhich was forgotten before the vessel reached its home-port again. WhenI returned from my first voyage, my family inquired how I liked myprofession, and, with all truth, I informed them that I did not like itat all, and that I would be willing to have my indentures cancelled andto return to shore life once more, if I might be so permitted. My fathersmiled grimly, and seemed to derive considerable satisfaction from thefact that he had prophesied disaster from the outset. 

"No, " he said, "you have made your bed, my lad, and now you must lieupon it. There is still a considerable portion of your apprenticeship tobe served, and it will be quite soon enough for us at the end of thattime to decide what you are to do. "

A month later I was at sea again, bound this time for Sydney. We reachedthat port on my nineteenth birthday, and by that time I had made up mymind. Articles or no Articles, I was determined to spend no more of mylife on board that hateful ship. Accordingly, one day having obtainedshore leave, I purchased a new rig-out, and leaving my sea-going togswith the Jewish shopman, I made tracks, as the saying goes, into theBush with all speed. Happen what might, I was resolved that CaptainFairweather should not set eyes on George Fairfax again. 

From that time onward my career was a strange one. I became a veritableJack-of-all-Trades. A station-hand, a roust-about, shearer, assistant toa travelling hawker, a gold-miner, and at last a trooper in one of thefinest bodies of men in the world, the Queensland Mounted Police. It wasin this curious fashion that I arrived at my real vocation. After aconsiderable period spent at headquarters, I was drafted to a station inthe Far West. There was a good deal of horse and sheep-stealing going onin that particular locality, and a large amount of tact and ingenuitywere necessary to discover the criminals. I soon found that this was abusiness at which I was likely to be successful. More than once I hadthe good fortune to be able to bring to book men who had carried ontheir trade for years, and who had been entirely unsuspected. Eventuallymy reputation in this particular line of business became noised abroad, until it came to the ears of the Commissioner himself. Then news reachedus that a dastardly murder had been committed in the suburbs ofBrisbane, and that the police were unable to obtain any clue as to theidentity of the person accountable for it. Two or three men werearrested on suspicion, but were immediately discharged on being in aposition to give a satisfactory account of their actions on the night ofthe murder. It struck me that I should like to take up the case, andwith the confidence of youth, I applied to the Commissioner forpermission to be allowed to try my hand at unravelling the mystery. What they thought of my impudence I cannot say, but the fact remainsthat my request, after being backed up by my Inspector, was granted. Thecase was a particularly complicated one, and at one time I was beginningto think that I should prove no more successful than the others hadbeen. Instead of deterring me, however, this only spurred me on togreater efforts. The mere fact that I had asked to be allowed to takepart in the affair, had aroused the jealousy of the detectives of thedepartment, and I was aware that they would receive the news of myfailure with unqualified satisfaction. I therefore prosecuted myinquiries in every possible direction, sparing myself neither labour norpains. It would appear that the victim, an old man, was without kith orkin. He was very poor, and lived by himself in a small villa on theoutskirts of the city. No one had been seen near the house on the nightin question, nor had any noise been heard by the neighbours. Yet in themorning he was discovered lying on the floor of the front-room, stabbedto the heart from behind. Now every detective knows--indeed it is partof his creed--that, in an affair such as I am describing, nothing is toominute or too trivial to have a bearing upon the case. The old gentlemanhad been at supper when the crime was committed, and from the fact thatthe table was only laid for one, I argued that he had not expected avisitor. The murderer could not have been hungry, for the food had notbeen touched. That the motive was not robbery was also plain from thefact that not a drawer had been opened or a lock forced, while the moneyin his pocket was still intact. The doctors had certified that the woundcould not have been self-inflicted, while there was plenty of evidenceto show that there had not been a struggle. From the fact that thefront-door was locked, and that the key was in the murdered man'spocket, it was certain that the assassin must have left the house by theback. There was one question, however, so trivial in itself that onemight have been excused for not taking note of it, that attracted myattention. As I have said, the old man had been stabbed from behind, andwhen he was discovered by the police next day, his overturned chair waslying beside him. This, to my mind, showed that he had been seated withhis back to the door when the crime had been perpetrated. When I hadexamined everything else, I turned my attention to the chair. I did notexpect it to tell me anything, yet it was from it that I obtained theclue that was ultimately to lead to the solution of the whole mystery. The chair was a cheap one, made of white wood, and had the usual smoothstrip of wood at the top. On the back of this piece of wood, a quarterof an inch or so from the bottom, on the left-hand side, was a faintsmear of blood. The presence of the blood set me thinking. When found, the chair had been exactly eighteen inches from the body. The mere factthat the man had been stabbed from behind and to the heart, precludedany possibility of his having jumped up and caught at the back of thechair afterwards. Placing my left hand upon the back, I clasped myfingers under the piece of wood above-mentioned, to discover that aportion of the second finger fell exactly upon the stain. 

"Now I think I understand the situation, " I said to myself. "The old manwas seated at the table, about to commence his meal, when the murdererentered very quietly by the door behind him. He rested his left handupon the chair to steady himself while he aimed the fatal blow withhis right. "

But in that case how did the knife touch the middle finger of his lefthand? From the fact that the body was discovered lying upon its backjust as it had fallen, and that the chair was also still upon the floor, it was evident that the blood must have got there before, not after, thecrime was committed. Leaving the room I went out to the yard at the backand studied the paling fence. The partition which separated the yardfrom that of the house next door, was old, and in a very dilapidatedcondition, while that at the bottom was almost new, and was armed at thetop with a row of bristling nails. Bringing the powerfulmagnifying-glass I had brought with me for such a purpose, to bear uponit, I examined it carefully from end to end. The result more thanjustified the labour. A little more than half way along I discoveredanother small smear of blood. There could be no doubt that the man hadcut his finger on a nail as he had climbed over on his murderous errand. The next and more important thing was to decide how this information wasto be made useful to me. Since nothing had been taken from the house, and the old man had been quite unprepared for the attack that was to bemade upon him, I set the whole crime down as being one of revenge. Inthat case what would the assassin be likely to do after his object wasobtained? Would he vanish into the Bush forthwith, or get away by sea?

After I had finished my inspection of the fence I visited everypublic-house in the neighbourhood in the hope of finding out whether aman with a wounded hand had been seen in any of them on the night of themurder. I was totally unsuccessful, however. No one recollected havingseen such a man. From the hotels I went to various chemists' shops, butwith the same result. Next I tried the shipping-offices connected withthe lines of steamers leaving the port, but with no more, luck thanbefore. The case seemed rapidly going from bad to worse, and already ithad been suggested that I should give it up and return to my dutywithout further waste of time. This, as you may naturally suppose, I hadno desire to do. 

I worried myself about it day and night, giving it a great deal moreattention in fact than I should bestow upon such a matter now, or evenupon cases of twice the importance. If there had been nothing else in myfavour, my attention to duty should have been sufficient to havecommended me to my superiors. It was the other way round, however. ThePress were twitting the authorities concerning their inability todiscover the murderer, and more than hinted at the inefficiency of theDetective Force. When I had been engaged upon the matter for about afortnight, and with what success I have already informed you, theCommissioner sent for me, and told me that he did not think myqualifications were sufficiently marked to warrant my being employedlonger on the task in hand. This facer, coming upon the top of all thehard work I had been doing, and possibly my nerves were somewhatstrained by my anxiety, led me to say more than I intended. Though a manmay have the bad luck to fail in a thing, he seldom likes to be remindedof it. It was certainly so in my case. Consequently I was informed thatat the end of the month my connection with the Queensland Police wouldterminate. 

"Very well, sir, " I said, "in the meantime, if you will give me theopportunity, I will guarantee to catch the murderer and prove to youthat I am not as incapable as you imagine. "

I have often wondered since that I was not ordered back to the Bushthere and then. The fact remains, however, that I was not, and thus Iwas permitted to continue my quest unhindered. 

Ever since I had first taken the affair in hand I had had one pointcontinually before my eyes. The mere fact that the man had been stabbedin the back seemed to me sufficient proof that the assassin was offoreign origin, and that the affair was the outcome of a vendetta, andnot the act of an ordinary bloodthirsty crime. The wound, so the doctorsinformed me, was an extremely deep and narrow one, such as might verywell have been made by a stiletto. Assuming my supposition to becorrect, I returned to the house, and once more overhauled the deadman's effects. There was little or nothing there, however, to help me. If he had laid himself out to conceal the identity of his enemy he couldscarcely have done it more effectually. Baffled in one direction, Iturned for assistance to another. In other words, I interviewed hisleft-hand neighbour, a lady with whom I had already had some slightacquaintance. Our conversation took place across the fence thatseparated the two properties. 

"Do you happen to be aware, " I asked, when we touched upon the oneabsorbing topic, "whether the unfortunate gentleman had ever beenin Europe?"

"He had been almost everywhere, " the woman replied. "I believe he was asailor at one time, and I have often heard him boast that he knew almostevery seaport in the world. "

"I suppose you never heard him say whether he had lived in Italy?" Iinquired. 

"He used to mention the country now and again, " she said. "If it was afine morning he would sometimes remark that it was a perfect Italiansky. But nothing more than that. "

I was about to thank her and move away when she stopped me with anexclamation. 

"Wait one moment, " she said, "now I come to think of it, I remember thatabout three months ago he received a letter from Italy. I'll tell youhow I came to know it. I was standing in the front verandah when thepostman brought up the letters. He gave me mine, and then I noticed thatthe top letter he held in his hand had a foreign stamp. Now, my littleboy, Willie, collects stamps; he's tired of them now, but that doesn'tmatter. At that time, however, he was so taken up with them that hecould talk of nothing else. Well, as I was saying, I noticed this stamp, and asked the postman what country it came from. He told me it was fromItaly, and that the letter was for the gentleman next door. 'The nexttime I see him, ' I said to myself, 'I'll ask him for that stamp forWillie. ' I had my opportunity that self-same minute, for, just as I wasgoing down the garden there to where my husband was doing a littlecabbage-planting, he came into his front verandah. He took the letterfrom the postman, and as he looked at the envelope, I saw him give astart of surprise. His face was as white as death when he opened it, andhe had no sooner glanced at it than he gave a sort of stagger, and if ithadn't been for the verandah-rail I believe he'd have fallen. He was sotaken aback that I thought he was going to faint. I was standing whereyou may be now, and I called out to him to know whether I could doanything for him. I liked the man, you see, and pitied him for hisloneliness. What's more, he and my husband had always been on friendlyterms together. Well, as I was going on to say, he didn't answer, butpulling himself together, went into the house and shut the door. Whennext I saw him he was quite himself again. "

At last the case was beginning to look more hopeful. I thought I couldsee a faint spark of light ahead. 

"Did you happen to say anything about this to the other detectives whenthey were making inquiries after the crime had been committed?" I asked, with a little anxiety. 

"No, I did not, " she replied. "I never gave it a thought. It was such along time before the murder, you see, and to tell the truth I hadforgotten all about it. It was only when you began to talk of Italy andof his having been there, that I remembered it. You don't mean to sayyou think that letter had something to do with the man's death?"

"That is a very difficult question to answer, " I observed. "I think, however, it is exceedingly likely it may have had some connection withit. At any rate we shall see. Now will you think for one moment, and seewhether you can tell me the exact day on which that letter arrived?"

She considered for a few moments before she answered. 

"I believe I can, if you will give me time to turn it over in my mind, "she said. "My husband was at home that morning, and Willie, that's mylittle boy, was very much upset because I would not let him stay awayfrom school to help his father in the garden. Yes, sir, I can tell youthe exact date. It was on a Monday, and the third of June. "

I thanked her for the information she had given me, and then went off tosee what use it was likely to prove to me. The letter from Italy hadbeen delivered in Brisbane on the third of June. The murder wascommitted on the night of the nineteenth of July, or, in other words, forty-six days later. With all speed I set off to the office of theRoyal Mail Steamship Company, where I asked to be shown theirpassenger-list for the vessel that arrived on the nineteenth of July. When it was handed to me I scanned it eagerly in the hope of discoveringan Italian name. There were at least a dozen in the steerage, and one inthe first-class. I was relieved, however, to find that all but thefirst-class passengers had disembarked at Cairns, further up the coast. The name of the exception was Steffano Gairdi, and he was a passengerfrom Naples. 

"You can't tell me anything more definite about this gentleman, Isuppose?" I said to the clerk who was attending to me. "Did you happento see him?"

"He was in here only this morning, " the man replied. 

"Here, when?" I inquired, with such surprise that the other clerkslooked up from their books at me in astonishment. "Do you mean to tellme that the gentleman I am asking about was here this morning?"

"I do, " he replied. "He came in to book his return passage to Italy. Heonly undertook the voyage for the sake of his health. "

"Then it's just possible you may know where he is staying now?" I asked, not however with much hope of success. "If you can tell me, I shall beunder an obligation to you. "

"I can tell you that also, " the young man answered. "He is staying atthe Continental Hotel in Adelaide Street. "

"I am more obliged to you than I can say, " I returned. "You haverendered me a great service. "

"Don't mention it, " said the clerk. "I am very glad to have been able togive you the information you required. "

I thanked him once more and left the office. Now if Mr. Steffano Gairdihappened to have a cut or the mark of one upon the inside of his lefthand, I felt that I should be within measurable distance of the end ofthe affair. But how was I to get a view of his hands? If he were the manI wanted, he would probably be on his guard, and he had already provedhimself to be sufficiently acute to make me careful how I went to workwith him. I had no time to lose, however. The next boat sailed forEurope in two days' time, and he had booked his passage in her. For thatreason alone, I knew that I must be quick if I wished to accumulatesufficient evidence against him to justify the issue of a warrant forhis arrest. I accordingly walked on to the Continental Hotel, and askedto see the manager, with whom I had the good fortune to be acquainted. Iwas shown into his private office, and presently he joined me there. Hewas familiar with my connection with the police force, and laughinglyremarked that he hoped I had not called upon him in my official capacity. 

"As a matter of fact that is just what I am doing, " I replied. "I wantyou to give me some information concerning one of your guests. I believeI am right in saying that you have an Italian gentleman, named Gairdi, staying at your hotel?"

"That is certainly so, " he admitted. "I hope there is nothing againsthim?"

"It is rather soon to say that, " I said. "I am suspicious of theman--and I want to ask you a few questions concerning him. "

"As many as you like, " he returned. "I cannot say, however, that I knowvery much about him. He has been up the country, and only returned toBrisbane yesterday. "

"Is this the first occasion on which he has stayed here?"

"No, " the manager replied. "He was here nearly a month ago for a coupleof nights, and he had had his room reserved for him while he was away. "

"Perhaps you can tell me if he slept here on the night of July thenineteenth?"

"If you will excuse me for a moment I can soon let you know, " said themanager, and then crossed the room to go into an outer office. A fewmoments later he returned and nodded his head. "Yes, he slept here thatnight, and went to Toowoomba next day. "

"One more question, and then I have done. Did you happen to notice thatnight, or before he left next day, whether he had hurt his left hand?"

"It's strange that you should speak of that, " said the manager. "He hadcut his left hand rather badly with a broken glass, so he told us. Wegave him some sticking-plaster to do it up with. "

"That will do beautifully, " I said. "And now perhaps you will add to thekindness you have already done me by letting me see the gentleman inquestion. I don't want to speak to him, but I want to impress hiscountenance upon my mind. "

"Why not go into lunch?" the manager inquired. "You will then be able tostudy him to your heart's content, without his being any the wiser. You're not in uniform, and no one would take you for a detective. "

"An excellent idea, " I replied. "By the way, while I am upon thesubject, I suppose I can rely upon your saying nothing about the matterto him, or to any one else?"

"You may depend upon me implicitly, " he answered. "I should be scarcelylikely to do so, for my own sake. I trust the matter is not a veryserious one. I should not like to have any scandal in the hotel. "

"Well, between ourselves, " I observed, "I am afraid it is rather aserious affair. But you may be sure I will do all I can to prevent yourname or the hotel's being mixed up in it. "

Then, as he had proposed, I followed him into the dining-room and tookmy place at a small table near the window. At that adjoining me, a tall, swarthy individual, with close-cropped hair, an Italian without doubt, was seated. He glanced at me as I took my place, and then continued hismeal as if he were unaware of my presence in the room. 

By the time I had finished my lunch I had thoroughly impressed his faceand personality upon my memory, and felt sure that, if necessary, Ishould know him anywhere again. My labours, however, were by no meansover; in fact they were only just beginning. What I had against him sofar would scarcely be sufficient to justify our applying for a warrantfor his arrest. If I wanted to bring the crime home to him, it would benecessary for me to connect him with it more closely than I had yetdone. But how to do this in the short space of time that was at mydisposal I could not see. The murderer, as I have already said, was noordinary one, and had laid his plans with the greatest care. He hadtaken away the knife, and in all probability had got rid of it longsince. No one had seen him enter the house on the night in question, norhad any one seen him leave it again. I was nearly beside myself withvexation. To be so near my goal, and yet not be able to reach it, wasprovoking beyond endurance. But my lucky star was still in theascendant, and good fortune was to favour me after all. 

As I have already observed, when the crime had become known, thepermanent detective force had been most assiduous in the attentions theyhad given it. The only piece of valuable evidence, however, that theyhad been able to accumulate, was a footprint on a flower-bed near thecentre of the yard, and another in the hall of the house itself. Now itwas definitely settled, by a careful comparison of these imprints, thatthe murderer, whoever he might have been, wore his boots downconsiderably on the left heel, and on the inside. Now, as everybootmaker will tell you, while the outer is often affected in this way, the inner side seldom is. I noticed, however, that this was the casewith the man I suspected. The heel of his left boot was very much worndown and on the inside. The right, however, was intact. 

On leaving the Continental Hotel, I made my way to the PoliceCommissioner's office, obtained an interview with him, and placed theevidence I had gleaned before him. He was good enough to express hisapproval of my endeavours, but was doubtful whether the case against theItalian was strong enough yet to enable us to definitely bring the crimehome to the man. 

"At any rate it will justify our issuing a warrant for his arrest, " hesaid, "and that had better be done with as little delay as possible. Otherwise he will be out of the country. "

A warrant was immediately procured and an officer was detailed toaccompany me in case I should need his assistance. When we reached theContinental Hotel I inquired for Señor Gairdi, only to be informed thathe had left the hotel soon after lunch. 

"It is only what I expected, " I said to my companion. "His suspicionsare aroused, and he is going to try and give us the slip. "

"I think not, " said the manager. "I fancy you will find that he is onboard the steamer. You must remember that she sails at daybreak. "

We accordingly hastened to the river, and made our way to where thesteamer was lying. On arrival on board I inquired for the head-steward, and when he put in an appearance inquired whether Señor Gairdi had comeaboard yet. 

"He brought his luggage on board, and inspected his cabin about threeo'clock, " that official replied, "and then went ashore again. "

There was nothing for it therefore but for us to await his return. Though we did not know it, we were in for a long spell, for it was notuntil nearly nine o'clock that our man reappeared on board. He had justcrossed the gangway and was making his way along the promenade deck, when I accosted him. 

"May I have a word with you, Señor Gairdi?" I asked. 

"Yes, certainly, " he replied, speaking with only a slight foreignaccent. "What is it you want?"

I drew him a few paces further along the deck, so that, if possible, theother passengers, who were standing near, should not hear what I had tosay to him. 

"I have to tell you, " I said, "that I hold a warrant for your arrest onthe charge of murdering one, Joseph Spainton, on the night of July thenineteenth of this year. I must caution you that anything you may saywill be used as evidence against you. "

The nearest electric light shone full and clear upon his face, and Inoticed that a queer expression had suddenly made its appearance uponit. Apart from that, he did not seem at all surprised at his arrest. 

"So you have found it out after all, " he said. "I thought I was going toevade suspicion and get away safely. You would not have caught me then. It is Fate, I suppose. "

He shrugged his shoulders and said something under his breath inItalian. 

"Must I go ashore with you?" he asked. 

"If you please, " I answered, marvelling that he should take it socoolly. 

Then turning his dark eyes upon me, he continued--

"Señor, in Italy I am a gentleman, and my name, which is not Gairdi, isan honoured one. What I am accused of, and what I admit doing, was nocrime. The dead man was a traitor, and I was deputed to kill him. I didit, and this is the end. "

The words had scarcely left his lips before he took a revolver from hiscoat-pocket, placed it to his right temple and, before I could preventhim, had pulled the trigger. He fell with a crash at my feet, and beforethe ship's doctor could be brought to his side, he was dead. Who hereally was, or to what Secret Society he belonged--for his last words tome warranted the belief that he was a member of some suchorganization--we were never able to discover. He was dead, and there wasan end to it. Such is the story of the first big case in which I wasengaged, and one that led me step by step to the position I now hold. Ihave told it perhaps at somewhat greater length than I need have done, but I trust the reader will forgive me. As a matter of fact I am ratherproud of it; more so perhaps than I have any reason to be. 

[Illustration: "HE FELL WITH A CRASH AT MY FEET. "]

Having resigned my position in the police of the Northern Colony, I wasnot to be tempted to reconsider my decision. My liking for the life, however, and my interest in the unravelling of mysterious crimes, provedtoo strong, and I joined the Detective Staff in Melbourne, seeing intheir service a good deal of queer life and ferreting out not a smallnumber of extraordinary cases. The experience gained there wasinvaluable, and led me, after one particularly interesting piece ofbusiness in which I had the good fortune to be most successful, toentertain the notion of quitting Government employ altogether, andsetting up for myself. I did so, and soon had more work upon my handthan I could very well accomplish. But I was too ambitious to be contentwith small things, and eventually came to the conclusion that there wasnot enough scope in the Colonies for me. After fifteen years' absence, therefore, I returned to England, spending a year in the Further East_en route_ in order to enlarge my experience, and to qualify myself forany work that might come to me from that quarter. 

On a certain bitterly cold day in January I reached Liverpool from theUnited States, and took the train for my old home. My father and motherhad long since died, and now all that remained to me of them was thestone slab that covered their resting place in the quiet littlechurchyard at the foot of the hill. 

"Well, here I am, " I said to myself, "thirty-three years old, and alonein the world. Nobody knows me in England, but it won't be my fault ifthey don't hear of George Fairfax before very long. I'll be off toLondon and try my fortune there. "

Next day I made my way to the Great Metropolis, and installed myself ata small private hotel, while I looked about me preparatory to commencingbusiness. To talk of gaining a footing in London is all very well in itsway, but it is by no means so easy a task to accomplish as it mightappear. Doubtless it can be done fairly quickly if one is prepared tospend large sums of money in advertising, and is not afraid to blowone's own trumpet on every possible occasion, but that is not my line, and besides, even had I so wished, I had not the money to do it. For amultitude of reasons I did not feel inclined to embark my hard-earnedsavings on such a risky enterprise. I preferred to make my way by my owndiligence, and with that end in view I rented an office in a convenientquarter, furnished it, put a small advertisement in a few of the papers, and then awaited the coming of my clients. 

As I have a long and curious story to tell, and this book is onlyintended to be the narration of a certain episode in my life, a detaileddescription of my first three years in London would not only besuperfluous, but in every way a waste of time. Let it suffice that myfirst case was that of the now notorious Pilchard Street DiamondRobbery, my success in which brought me business from a well known firmin Hatton Gardens. As the public will doubtless remember, they had beenrobbed of some valuable gems between London and Amsterdam in asingularly audacious manner. My second was the case of the celebratedRussian swindler, who called herself the Countess Demikoff. This casealone took me nearly six months to unravel, but I did not grudge thetime, seeing that I was well paid for my labours, and that I managed tosucceed where the police had failed. From that time forward I think Imay say without boasting that I have been as successful as any man of myage has a right to expect to be. What is better still, I am now in thehappy position of being able to accept or decline business as I choose. It is in many respects a hard life, and at all times is attended with afair amount of risk, but you cannot make omelets without breaking eggs, and if any one chooses to spend his life running to earth men who arewaging war against Society, well, he must not grumble if he receivessome hard knocks in return. 

After these preliminaries I will proceed to show how I came to be mixedup in the most curious case it has ever been my good, or evil, fortuneto encounter. It showed me a side of human nature I had not met before, and it brought me the greatest happiness a man can ever hope to find. 

CHAPTER II

All business London, and a good many other people besides, must rememberthe famous United Empire Bank Fraud. Bonds had been stolen andnegotiated, vast sums of money were discovered to be missing, and themanager and one of the directors were absent also. So cleverly had theaffair been worked, and so flaring were the defalcations, that had itnot been for the public-spirited behaviour and generosity of two of thedirectors, the position of the bank would have been most seriouslycompromised, if not shattered altogether. How the culprits had managedto slip through the fingers of the law in the first place no one couldsay, but the fact remains that they were able to get out of England, without, apparently, leaving a trace of their intentions or theirwhereabouts behind them. Scotland Yard took the matter up with its usualpromptness, and at first were confident of success. They set theircleverest detectives to work upon it, and it was not until more than amonth had elapsed that the men engaged were compelled most reluctantlyto admit their defeat. They had done their best: it was the system underwhich they worked that was to blame. In the detection of crime, or inthe tracing of a criminal, it is best, as in every other walk of life, to be original. 

One morning on arriving at my office I found a letter awaiting me fromthe remaining directors of the bank, in which they inquired if I couldmake it convenient to call upon them at the head-office that day. Totell the truth I had been expecting this summons for nearly a week, andwas far from being displeased when it came. The work I had expected themto offer me was after my own heart, and if they would only trust thebusiness to me and give me a free hand, I was prepared on my part tobring the missing gentlemen to justice. 

Needless to say I called upon them at the hour specified, and after abrief wait was conducted to the board room where the directors sat insolemn conclave. 

The chairman, Sir Walter Bracebridge, received me on behalf of hiscolleagues. 

"We wrote to you, Mr. Fairfax, " he said, "in order to find out whetheryou could help us concerning the difficulty in which we find ourselvesplaced. You of course are aware of the serious trouble the bank hasexperienced, and of the terrible consequences which have resultedtherefrom?"

I admitted that I was quite conversant with it, and waited to hear whathe would have to say next. 

"As a matter of fact, " he continued, "we have sent for you to knowwhether you can offer us any assistance in our hour of difficulty? Praytake a chair, and let us talk the matter over and see what conclusion wecan arrive at. "

I seated myself, and we discussed the affair to such good purpose that, when I left the Boardroom, it was on the understanding that I was totake up the case at once, and that my expenses and a very large sum ofmoney should be paid me, provided I could manage to bring the affair toa successful termination. I spent the remainder of that day at the Bank, carefully studying the various memoranda. A great deal of what I hadread and heard had been mere hearsay, and this it was necessary todiscard in order that the real facts of the case might be taken up, andthe proper conclusions drawn therefrom. For three days I weighed thecase carefully in my mind, and at the end of that time was in a positionto give the Board a definite answer to their inquiries. Thereupon I leftEngland, with the result that exactly twelve weeks later the two men, somuch wanted, were at Bow Street, and I had the proud knowledge ofknowing that I had succeeded where the men who had tried before me hadso distinctly failed. 

As will be remembered, it was a case that interested every class ofsociety, and Press and Public were alike united in the interest theyshowed in it. It is not, however, to the trial itself as much as anothercurious circumstance connected with it, that has induced me to refer toit here. The case had passed from the Magistrate's Court to the OldBailey, and was hourly increasing in interest. Day after day the Courtwas crowded to overflowing, and, when the time came for me to take myplace in the witness-box and describe the manner in which I had led upto and effected the capture of the offenders, the excitement rose tofever-heat. I can see the whole scene now as plainly as if it hadoccurred but yesterday; the learned Judge upon the Bench, the jury intheir box, the rows of Counsels, and the benches full of interestedspectators. I gave my evidence and was examined by the Counsels for theprosecution and for the defence. I described how I had traced the menfrom England to their hiding-place abroad, and the various attempts thathad been made to prevent their extradition, and had just referred to acertain statement one of the prisoners had made to me soon after hisarrest, when an interruption caused me to look behind at the rows ofspectators. At the further end of the bench, nearest me, were two men;one was evidently tall, the other very short. The taller was thepossessor of silvery white hair and a long and venerable beard. He was ahandsome looking man of about forty, and my first glance at him told methat he was blind. As I have said, his companion was a much smaller man, with a smooth, almost boyish face, a pair of twinkling eyes, but a mouthrather hard set. Both were evidently following the case closely, andwhen on the next day I saw that they were in the same place, I took aneven greater interest in them than before. It was not however until thetrial had finished and the pair of miserable men had been sent to penalservitude for a lengthy term of years, that I made the acquaintance ofthe men I have just described. I remember the circumstance quitedistinctly. I had left the Court and was proceeding down the Old Baileyin the direction of Ludgate Hill, when I heard my name pronounced. 

Turning round I discovered to my astonishment the two men I had seen inthe Court, and who had seemed to take such an interest in the case. Thesmaller was guiding his friend along the crowded pavement with adexterity that was plainly the outcome of a long practice. When Istopped, they stopped also, and the blind man addressed me. His voicewas deep and had a note of pathos in it impossible to describe. It mayhave been that I was a little sad that afternoon, for both the men whohad been condemned to penal servitude had wives and children, to whosepitiful condition the learned Judge had referred when passing sentence. 

"You are Mr. Fairfax, are you not?" inquired the taller of the men. 

"That is my name, " I admitted. "What can I do for you?"

"If we could persuade you to vouchsafe us an hour of your valuable timewe should be more grateful than we could say, " the man replied. "We havean important piece of business which it might possibly be to youradvantage to take up. At any rate it would be worthy of yourconsideration. "

"But why have you not come to me before?" I inquired. "You have seen mein Court every day. Why do you wait until the case is at an end?"

"Because we wanted to be quite sure of you, " he answered. "Our case isso large and of such vital importance to us, that we did not desire torun any risk of losing you. We thought we would wait and familiarizeourselves with all that you have done in this affair before coming toyou. Now we are satisfied that we could not place our case in betterhands, and what we are anxious to do is to induce you to interestyourself in it and take it up. "

"You pay me a very high compliment, " I said, "but I cannot give you adecision at once. I must hear what it is that you want me to do and havetime to think it over, before I can answer you. That is my invariablerule, and I never depart from it. Do you know my office?"

"We know it perfectly, " returned the blind man. "It would be strange ifwe did not, seeing that we have stood outside it repeatedly, trying tosummon up courage to enter. Would it be possible for you to grant us aninterview to-night?"

"I fear not, " I said. "I am tired, and stand in need of rest. If youcare to come to-morrow morning, I shall be very pleased to see you. Butyou must bear in mind the fact that my time is valuable, and that it isonly a certain class of case that I care to take up personally. "

"We are not afraid of our case, " the man replied. "I doubt if there hasever been another like it. I fancy you yourself will say so when youhear the evidence I have to offer. It is not as if we are destitute. Weare prepared to pay you well for your services, but we must have thevery best that England can supply. "

My readers must remember that this conversation was being carried on atthe corner of Ludgate Hill and the Old Bailey. Curious glances werebeing thrown at my companions by passers-by, and so vehement were thetaller man's utterances becoming, that a small crowd was graduallycollecting in our neighbourhood. 

"Very well, " I said, "if you are really desirous of consulting me, Ishall be very glad to see you at my office at ten o'clock to-morrowmorning. I must ask you, however, not to be late, as I have severalother appointments. "

"We shall not be late, " the man answered, "you may rely upon that. Wehave too much at stake to run any risks of losing your assistance. Wewill be with you to-morrow morning at ten o'clock punctually. "

He thereupon bade me good-bye and raising his hat politely was led alongthe street by his companion in an opposite direction to that I wastaking. They seemed delighted that I had given them an appointment, butfor my part I am afraid I was too absorbed by the memories of the day, and the punishment that had been allotted to the two principal membersin the swindle, to think very much of them and their business. Indeed, although I made a note of the appointment, it was not until I hadarrived at the office on the following morning that I recollected theirpromised visit. I had just finished my correspondence, and had dictateda few letters to my managing clerk, when a junior entered with twocards, which he placed before me. The first I took up bore the name ofMr. Septimus Codd, that of the second, Mr. George Kitwater. When I hadfinished the letter I was in the act of dictating, I bade the clerkadmit them, and a moment later the blind man and his companion whom Ihad seen on Ludgate Hill the previous evening, were ushered into mypresence. I cannot remember a more venerable appearance than thatpresented by the taller man. His was a personality that would haveappealed forcibly to any student of humanity. It was decidedly an opencountenance, to which the long white beard that descended almost to hiswaist gave an added reverence. His head was well shaped and well setupon his shoulders, his height was six feet two if an inch, and hecarried himself with the erectness of a man accustomed to an outdoorlife. He was well dressed, and for this reason I surmised that he wasthe possessor of good manners. His companion was as much below themiddle height as he was above it. His was a peculiar countenanceresembling that of a boy when seen at a distance, and that of an old manwhen one was close to him. His eyes, as I have already said, were small, and they were set deep in his head. This, in itself, was calculated toadd to his peculiar appearance. He steered his blind companion into theroom and placed him in a seat. Then he perched himself on a chair besidehim and waited for me to open the debate. 

"Good-morning, gentlemen, " I said. "Allow me to congratulate you on yourpunctuality. "

"We were afraid of missing you, " observed Kitwater. "Our business is soparticular that we did not want to run any risk of losing ourappointment. "

"Perhaps you will now be good enough to tell me what that business is?"I replied, taking my note-book out of a drawer preparatory to writingdown what they had to say. 

"In the first place, sir, " the man began, "we of course understand thateverything we have to tell you will be regarded by you as strictlyprivate and confidential?"

"That goes without saying, " I replied. "If I were to divulge what myclients tell me, my business would not be worth a day's purchase. Youcan rest assured that everything you may impart to me will be treated instrictest confidence. "

"We thank you, " said Kitwater. "The story I have to tell you is perhapsthe strangest that has ever been told to mortal man. To begin with, youmust understand that my companion and myself have but lately arrived inEngland. We have been for many years missionaries in China, sowing thegood seed in the Western Provinces. I do not know whether you have evervisited that country, but even if you have not you must be aware to someextent of the dangers to which our calling is subjected. We carry ourlives in our hands from the moment we leave civilization until we enterit again. There are times, however, that compensate one for all thetrials that have to be undergone. "

"You must excuse me, " I said, "if I remind you that my time is valuable, and that, however interested I may be in the missionary work of China, Icannot allow it to interfere with my business. The sooner you tell me inwhat way you want me to help you, the sooner I shall be able to give youthe answer you are seeking. "

"I must implore your pardon, " the man continued, humbly enough, "I amafraid our calling, however, is apt to make us a trifle verbose. If youwill allow me, I will put what I have to say in as few words aspossible. "

I bowed and signed to him to proceed. 

"Our case is as follows, " he began. "As I have told you, we have been inChina for several years, and during that time we have had the goodfortune to enroll not a few well-known names among our converts. To makea long story short, we were so successful as to be able to persuade eventhe Mandarin of the Province to listen to our message. He was anenormously rich man, one of the richest perhaps in China, and was soimpressed by the good news we brought to him that, on his death-bed, heleft to us for the benefit of the mission all his wealth, in gold, silver, and precious stones. It was a princely legacy, and one thatwould have enabled us to carry on our mission with such success as wehad never before dreamed of. "

"But if you were so lucky and so much in love with your profession, howdoes it come about that you are in England now?" I inquired. 

"I will tell you why, " he answered, leaning towards me and tapping withhis fingers upon the edge of my writing-table. "It is a sad story, andthe mere telling of it causes me more pain than you would believe. Youmust understand that at the time of the Mandarin's death an Englishtraveller, who had been passing through the Western Provinces, reachedour city and took up his abode with us. Needless to say we wereoverwhelmed with grief at the loss of our patron. The treasure he hadpresented us with we took to the mission and deposited it in a safeplace. We had no suspicion of any sort of treachery. I fear my companionand I are not men of the world, that is to say we do not go aboutsuspecting evil of our neighbours. "

"I think I understand, " I said. "You brought the treasure home, put itin what you considered a safe place, and one day awoke to find yourestimable guest missing and the treasure gone with him. Have I guessedcorrectly?"

"You have hit the mark exactly, " Kitwater replied. "We woke one day notonly to find the treasure gone, but also ourselves and our missionseriously compromised. The relations of the dead man not only accused usof having alienated him from the faith of his forefathers, but also ofhaving robbed him of his ancestral treasure. We could not but admit thatwe had been presented with the wealth in question, and when it wasdemanded of us, we could only explain that we had lost it in our turn. You can imagine the position for yourself. At the best of times theforeigner is not popular in China, and our situation was particularlyunpleasant. Situated as we were in one of the wildest portions of theempire, and accused of the basest sacrilege, that is to say of violatingthe home of a dead man, we could hope for but small mercy. The man whohad robbed us had entirely disappeared and no trace of him could bediscovered. To attempt to offer any explanation, or to incriminate him, was out of the question. We could only suffer in silence. "

He paused and heaved a heavy sigh. 

"And what form did your punishment take?" I inquired, for I wasbeginning to be interested in their story. 

"Can you not see for yourself?" the man answered. "Can you not see thatI am blind, while my companion is dumb? That was what they condemned usto. By that man's villainy I am destined never to look upon God's earthagain, while my companion will never be able to converse with hisfellow-men, except by signs. We are in the world, yet out of it. "

I looked at them both in amazement. Their tale seemed too terrible to betrue. And yet I had the best of evidence to show that it was correct. 

"And why have you come to me? What do you want me to do? I cannot giveyou back your sight, nor your friend his power of speech. "

"But you can help us to find the man who brought this misery upon us, "Kitwater replied. "That is what we have come to ask of you. He must notbe permitted to enjoy the wealth he stole from us. It is sacred to aspecial duty, and that duty it must perform. We are not overburdenedwith riches, in fact we are dependent upon the bounty of another, butif you can help us to recover the sum that was stolen from us, we willgladly pay whatever you may ask! We cannot say more than that. "

"But this is a most unheard-of request, " I said. "How do you know wherethe man may be at this moment?"

"We do not know, or we should scarcely have asked your assistance, "Kitwater replied with some show of reason. "It is because we have heardof your wonderful powers in tracing people that we have come to you. Ouronly cause for attending the trial at which you saw us was to hear theevidence you gave and to draw our own conclusions from it. That thoseconclusions were complimentary to you, our presence here is evidence of. We know that we could not put our case in better hands, and we willleave it with you to say whether or not you will help us. As I said justnow, my companion is dumb, while I am blind; we cannot do muchourselves. Will you not take pity upon us and help us to find the manwho betrayed and ruined us?"

"But he may be at the other end of the world at this moment?" I said. 

"That does not matter, " he returned. "We know that wherever he may be, you will find him. All we ask you to do is to bring us face to face withhim. We will manage the rest. It will be strange then if we are not ableto get him to a proper way of thinking. "

This was the most unusual case I had had to do with, and for the momentI scarcely knew what to say. I turned to the blind man once more. 

"Have you any idea where the man went after he robbed you?"

"He crossed the province of Yunnan into Burmah, " he replied. "After thathe made his way through Mandalay to Rangoon, and shipped on board thesteamer _Jemadar_ for London. "

"When did the _Jemadar_ reach London?"

"On the twenty-third of June, " he answered. "We have made inquiries uponthat point. "

I made a note of this and then continued my inquiries. 

"One other question, " I said. "While we are on the subject, what do yousuppose would be the total value of the treasure of which herobbed you?"

"That is very difficult to say, " Kitwater replied, and then turned tohis companion and held out his hand. The other took it and tapped uponthe palm with the tips of his fingers in a sort of dot-and-telegraphfashion that I had never seen used before. 

"My friend says that there were ninety-three stones, all rubies andsapphires; they were of exquisite lustre and extraordinary size. Possibly they might have been worth anything from a hundred and seventythousand pounds to a quarter of a million. "

I opened my eyes on hearing this. Were the men telling me the truth? Iasked myself, or were they trying to interest me in the case byexaggerating the value of the treasure?

"What you say is almost incomprehensible, " I continued. "I trust youwill forgive me, but can you substantiate what you say?"

"When we say that we are willing to pay your expenses in advance if youwill try to find the man, I think we are giving you very good proof ofour _bona fides, _" he remarked. "I am afraid we cannot give you anyother, seeing as I have said, that we are both poor men. If you areprepared to take up our case, we shall be under a life-long gratitude toyou, but if you cannot, we must endeavour to find some one else who willundertake the task. "

"It is impossible for me to decide now whether I can take it up or not, "I said, leaning back in my chair and looking at them both as I spoke. "Imust have time to think it over; there are a hundred and one things tobe considered before I can give you a direct reply. "

There was silence for a few moments, and then Kitwater, who had beenholding his usual mysterious communications with his friend, said--

"When do you think you will be able to let us have an answer?"

"That depends upon a variety of circumstances, " I replied. "It is amatter difficult to average. In the first place there is no knowingwhere the man is at present: he may be in London; he may be in America;he may be in any other portion of the globe. It might cost five hundredpounds to find him, it might cost five thousand. You must see foryourselves how uncertain it all is. "

"In that case we should be prepared to give security for the first-namedamount, or pay you half in advance, " Kitwater replied. "I hope you donot think, Mr. Fairfax, that we are endeavouring to play you false? Youcan see for yourself that our injuries are permanent, and, as far asthey go, are at least evidence concerning the truth of our story. Youcan also see for yourself how this man has behaved towards us. He hasrobbed us of all we hold valuable, and to his act of treachery we owethe mutilations we have suffered. Can you wonder that we are anxious tofind him?"

"I do not wonder at that at all, " I said. "My only feeling is that Imust regard it as an entirely business matter. "

"We cannot blame you, " Kitwater replied. "Yet you must surely understandour anxiety for a definite and immediate answer. The man has had aconsiderable start of us already, and he has doubtless disposed of thejewels ere this. At whatever price he sold them, he must now be inpossession of a considerable fortune, which rightly belongs to us. Weare not vindictive men; all we ask is for our own. "

"I quite agree with you there, " I replied. "The only question in my mindis, who shall get it for you? Let me explain matters a little moreclearly. In the first place I have no desire to offend you, but how am Ito know that the story you tell me is a true one?"

"I have already told you that you will have to take our word for that, "he said. "It will be a great disappointment to us if you cannot take thematter up, but we must bear it as we have borne our other misfortunes. When we realized the way you managed those bank people we said to eachother--'That's the man for us! If any one can catch Hayle he's thatperson. ' It naturally comes to us as a disappointment to find that youare not willing to take up the case. "

"I have not said that I am not willing, " I answered; "I only said that Iam not going to commit myself until I have given the matter dueconsideration. If you will call here at four o'clock to-morrowafternoon, I shall be able to give you a definite answer. "

"I suppose we must be content with that, " said Kitwater lugubriously. 

They thereupon thanked me and rose to go. 

"By the way, " I said, "does this man Hayle know that you are inEngland?"

The blind man shook his head. 

"He thinks we are lying dead in the jungle, " he said, "and it is not hisfault that we are not. Did he suspect for a moment that we were aliveand in the same country as himself, he'd be out of it like a rat drivenby a ferret from his hole. But if you will give us your assistance, sir, we will make him aware of our presence before very long. "

Though he tried to speak unconcernedly, there was an expression upon theman's face that startled me. I felt that, blind though he was, I shouldnot care to be in Mr. Hayle's place when they should meet. 

After they had left me I lit a cigar and began to think the matter over. I had had a number of strange cases presented to me in my time, butnever one that had opened in such a fashion as this. A man robs hisfriends in the centre of China; the latter are tortured and maimed forlife, and come to me in London to seek out their betrayer for them, inwhatever part of the globe he might be. The whole thing seemed sopreposterous as to be scarcely worth consideration, and yet, try how Iwould to put it out of my mind, I found myself thinking of itcontinually. The recollection of the blind man's face and that of hisdumb companion haunted me awake and asleep. More than once I determinedto have nothing to do with them, only later to change my mind, and vowthat I would see the matter through at any cost to myself. 

Next morning, however, saner counsels prevailed. An exceedinglyremunerative offer was made me by a prominent Trust Company, which, atany other time I should have had no hesitation in immediatelyaccepting. Fate, however, which is generally more responsible for thesematters than most folk imagine, had still a card to play upon Messrs. Kitwater and Codd's behalf, and it was destined to overthrow all myscruples, and what was more to ultimately revolutionize the conduct ofmy whole life. 

CHAPTER III

Towards the middle of the morning I was sitting in my office, awaitingthe coming of a prominent New York detective, with whom I had anappointment, when my clerk entered to inform me that a lady was in theouter office, and desired to see me if I could spare her a few minutes. 

"Who is she?" I inquired. "Find out that, and also her business. "

"Her name is Kitwater, " the man replied, when he returned after amoment's absence, "but she declines to state her business to any one butyourself, sir. "

"Kitwater?" I said. "Then she is a relation, I suppose, of the blind manwho was here yesterday. What on earth can she have to say to me? Well, Lawson won't be here for another ten minutes, so you may as well showher in. " Then to myself I added--"This is a development of the casewhich I did not expect. I wonder who she is, --wife, sister, daughter, orwhat, of the blind man?"

I was not to be left long in doubt, for presently the door opened andthe young lady herself entered the room. I say '_young lady_, ' becauseher age could not at most have been more than one-or two-and-twenty. She was tall and the possessor of a graceful figure, while one glancewas sufficient to show me that her face was an exceedingly pretty one. (Afterwards I discovered that her eyes were dark brown. ) I rose andoffered her a chair. 

"Good morning, Miss Kitwater, " I said. "This is an unexpected visit. Won't you sit down?"

When she had done so I resumed my seat at the table. 

"Mr. Fairfax, " she began, "you are the great detective, I believe?"

I admitted the soft impeachment with as much modesty as I could assumeat so short a notice. She certainly was a very pretty girl. 

"I have come to talk to you about my uncle. "

She stopped as if she did not quite know how to proceed. 

"Then the gentleman who called upon me yesterday, and who has themisfortune to be blind, is your uncle?" I said. 

"Yes! He was my father's younger and only brother, " she answered. "Ihave often heard my father speak of him, but I had never seen him myselfuntil he arrived in England, a month ago with his companion, Mr. Codd. Mr. Fairfax, they have suffered terribly. I have never heard anything soawful as their experiences. "

"I can quite believe that, " I answered. "Your uncle told me somethingof their great trouble yesterday. It seems wonderful to me that theyshould have survived to tell the tale. "

"Then he must have told you of Hayle, their supposed friend" (she spokewith superb scorn), "the man who betrayed them and robbed them of whatwas given them?"

"It was for that purpose that they called upon me, " I answered. "Theywere anxious that I should undertake the search for this man. "

She rested her clasped hands upon the table and looked pleadingly at me. 

"And will you do so?"

"I am considering the matter, " I said, with the first feeling ofreluctance I had experienced in the case. "I have promised to give themmy decision this afternoon. "

"So they informed me, and that is why I am here, " she replied. "Oh, Mr. Fairfax, you don't know how I pity them! Surely if they could find thisman his heart would be touched, and he would refund them a portion, atleast, of what he took from them, and what is legally theirs. "

"I am afraid it is very doubtful whether he will, " I said, "even in theevent of his being found. Gentlemen of his description are notconspicuous for their pity, nor, as a rule, will they disgorge unlessconsiderable pressure of an unpleasant description is brought to bearupon them. "

"Then that pressure must be brought to bear, " she said, "and if I maysay so, you are the only one who can do it. That is why I have calledupon you this morning. I have come to plead with you, to implore you, ifnecessary, to take the matter up. I am not very rich, but I wouldwillingly give all I have in the world to help them. "

"In that case you are one niece in a thousand, Miss Kitwater, " I said, with a smile. "Your uncle is indeed fortunate in having such achampion. "

She looked at me as if she were not quite certain whether I was jokingor not. 

"You will do this for them?"

What was I to say? What could I say? I had well nigh decided to havenothing to do with the matter, yet here I was, beginning to think it washard upon me to have to disappoint her. My profession is not onecalculated to render a man's heart over tender, but I must confess thatin this case I was by no means as adamant as was usual with me. As Ihave said, she was an unusually pretty girl, and had she not been kindenough to express her belief in my powers! After all, detectives, likeother people, are only human. 

"Your uncle and his companion have promised to call upon me thisafternoon, " I said, "and when they do so, I think I may promise you thatI will endeavour to come to some arrangement with them. "

"I thank you, " she said; "for I think that means that you will try tohelp them. If you do, I feel confident that you will succeed. I hopeyou will forgive me for having called upon you as I have done, but, whenI saw how disappointed they were after their interview with youyesterday, I made up my mind that I would endeavour to see you and tointerest you on their behalf before they came again. "

"You have certainly done so, " I answered, as she rose to go. "If I takethe case up, and believe me I am not at all sure that I shall not do so, they will owe it to your intercession. "

"Oh, no, I did not mean that exactly, " she replied, blushing prettily. "I should like to feel that you did it for the reason that you believein the justice of their cause, not merely because I tried to persuadeyou into it. That would not be fair, either to them or to you. "

"Would it not be possible for it to be on account of both reasons?" Iasked. "Let us hope so. And now good-morning, Miss Kitwater. I trustyour uncle will have good news for you when you see him again thisafternoon. "

"I hope so too, " she answered, and then with a renewal of her thanks anda little bow she left the office. 

I closed the door and went back to my seat, almost wondering at my ownbehaviour. Here was I, a hard-headed man of the world, being drawn intoan extraordinary piece of business, which I had most certainly decidedto have nothing to do with, simply because a pretty girl had smiledupon me, and had asked me to do it. For I don't mind confessing that Ihad made up my mind to help Kitwater and Codd in their search for thevillain Hayle. The Trust Company would have to look elsewhere forassistance. And yet, as I had the best of reasons for knowing, thatpiece of business was likely to prove twice as remunerative as thissearch for the traitorous friend. Happily, however money is noteverything in this world. 

During the remainder of the day I found myself looking forward with afeeling that was almost akin to eagerness, to the interview I was tohave with Kitwater and Codd that afternoon. If the two gentlemen hadfaults, unpunctuality was certainly not one of them, for the clock uponthe mantelpiece had scarcely finished striking the hour of four, when Iheard footsteps in the office outside, and next moment they were showninto my own sanctum. Codd came first, leading his friend by the hand, and as he did so he eyed me with a look of intense anxiety upon hisface. Kitwater, on the other hand, was dignified, and as impressive asever. If he were nervous, he certainly concealed it very well. 

"Good afternoon, Mr. Fairfax, " he said, as Codd led him to a seat. "According to the arrangement we came to yesterday afternoon, we havecome here to learn your decision which you promised to give us at fouro'clock to-day. I trust you have good news for us. "

"That depends upon how you take it, " I answered. "I have made up my mindto help you on certain conditions. "

"And those conditions?"

"Are that you pay my expenses and the sum of five hundred pounds, towhich another five hundred is to be added if I am successful in helpingyou to recover the treasure of which you told me yesterday. Is that afair offer?"

"An exceedingly fair one, " Kitwater replied, while little Codd noddedhis head energetically to show that he appreciated it. "We had expectedthat you would charge more. Of course you understand that it may involvea chase round half the world before you can find him? He's as slipperyas an eel, and, if he once gets to know that we are after him, he'lldouble and twist like a hare. "

"He'll not be the first man I have had to deal with who possessed thesecharacteristics, " I answered. "And I have generally succeeded in runningthem to earth at the end. "

"Let's hope for all our sakes that you will be as successful in thiscase, " he said. "And now, if I may ask the question, when will you beready to begin your search? We shall both feel happier when we know thatyou are on his track. "

"I am ready as soon as you like, " I rejoined. "Indeed, the sooner thebetter for all parties concerned. Nothing is to be gained by delay, andif, as you say, the man has now been in England two months, he may soonbe thinking of getting out of it again, if he has not done so already. But before I embark on anything, you must answer me some questions. "

"A hundred, if you like, " he returned. "You have only to ask them and Iwill do my best to answer. "

"In the first place, I must have a description of this Mr. Gideon Hayle. What is he like?"

"Tall, thin, with brown hair, and a short, close-cropped beard; hecarries himself erect, and looks about thirty-eight. "

"You don't happen to have a photograph of him in your possession, Isuppose?"

"No, " replied Kitwater, shaking his head. "Gideon Hayle is not the sortof man to allow himself to be photographed, and what's more you mustremember that when we reached Nampoung, the station on the frontier ofBurmah, we had scarcely a rag upon our backs. Any goods and chattels wemight once have possessed were in the hands of the Chinese. They hadrobbed us of everything, except what that arch thief, Hayle, had alreadystolen from us. "

As he said this, another look such as I had seen on the occasion of hisprevious visit spread over his face. 

"The robber, the thief, " he hissed, almost trembling in his suddenexcess of rage; "when I get hold of him he shall rue his treachery tothe day of his death. Upwards of a quarter of a million of money hestole from us, and where is it now? Where is my sight, and where isCoddy's power of speech? All gone, and he is free. 'Vengeance is Mine, 'saith the Lord, but I want to repay it myself. I want to----"

Here he leant across the table and turned his sightless eyes upon me. 

"This is certainly a curious sort of missionary, " I said to myself as Iwatched him, "He may be smitten on one cheek, but I scarcely fancy hewould be content to turn the other to the striker. "

At this moment Coddy leant forward in his chair, and placed his handupon his friend's arm. The effect was magical. His fit of impotent ragedied down as suddenly as it had sprung up, and immediately he becameagain the quiet, suave, smoothspoken individual who had first enteredmy office. 

"I must beg your pardon, Mr. Fairfax, " he said, in a totally differentvoice to that in which he had just spoken. "When I remember how we havebeen wronged I am apt to forget myself. I trust you will forgive me?"

"I will do so willingly, " I answered. "You have certainly won the rightto be excused if you entertain a feeling of resentment for the man whohas treated you so shamefully. And now to resume our conversation?"

"What were you about to say?"

"I was about to ask you the number and description of the stones ofwhich he robbed you. You told me they numbered ninety-three in all, if Iremember aright. Can you tell me how many there were of each?"

"Forty-eight rubies and forty-five sapphires, " he replied without amoment's hesitation. "The rubies were uncut and of various sizes, ranging perhaps from ten to eighty carats. They were true rubies, notspinels, remember that. The sapphires ran from fifteen carats to sixty, and there was not a flaw amongst them. "

"Has Hayle any knowledge of the value of precious stones?"

"There's not a keener judge in the East. He would be a cunning man whowould succeed in taking him in about the value of anything from amoonstone to a ruby. "

"In that case he would, in all probability, know where to place them tothe best advantage?"

"You may be sure that was his intention in coming to England. But wehave tried Hatton Garden and can hear nothing of him there. "

"He may have disposed of some of them on the continent, " I said. "However, we will soon clear that point up. The size of the largerstones is so unusual that they would be certain to attract attention. And now one other question. Are you aware whether he has any friends orrelatives in England?"

"So far as we know he has not a single relative in the world, " Kitwaterreplied. "Have you ever heard of one, Coddy?"

The little man shook his head, and then, taking the other's hand, tappedupon it with his fingers in the manner I have already described. 

"He says Hayle had a sister once, of whom he was very fond. " The tappingupon the hand continued, and once more Kitwater translated, "She was acripple, and lived in a small house off the Brompton Road. She diedwhile Hayle was in North Borneo; is not that so, little man?"

Codd nodded his head to show that Kitwater had interpreted himcorrectly. I then made some inquiries as to the missing man's habits. Sofar the description I had had of him was commonplace in the extreme. 

"Do you know whether he shipped on board the _Jemadar_ for England underhis own name, or under an assumed one?"

"He booked his passage as George Bertram, " Kitwater replied. "We knowthat is so, for we made inquiries at Rangoon. "

I next noted the name and address of the vessel's owner, and resolvedto pay him a visit next morning. It would be hard if I could not learnfrom him something concerning Mr. Hayle, and where he had goneon landing. 

"I think those are all the questions I want to ask you at present, " Isaid, closing my note-book. "It would be as well perhaps for you tofurnish me with your address, in order that I may communicate with you, should it be necessary. "

"At present, " said Kitwater, "we are staying with my niece at thevillage of Bishopstowe in Surrey. My late brother was vicar of theparish for many years, and he left his daughter a small property in theneighbourhood. They tell me it is a pretty place, but, as you are aware, I unfortunately cannot see it, and my friend Codd here cannot talk to meabout it?"

He heaved a heavy sigh and then rose to depart. 

"I must again express my gratitude to you, Mr. Fairfax, " he said, "forhaving consented to take up the case. I feel certain you will ultimatelybe successful. I will leave you to imagine with what anxiety we shallawait any news you may have to give us. "

"I will communicate with you as soon as I have anything to report, " Ianswered. "You may rely upon my doing my best to serve you. By the way, are you aware that your niece called upon me this morning?"

He gave a start of surprise. 

"No, I certainly did not know it, " he replied. "She said nothing to usof such an intention. I know that she is heart and soul with us in ourdesire to find Hayle. But since you have seen her you probablyknow that?"

"I think I do, " I returned, for some reason almost abruptly. 

"She is a good girl, " said Kitwater, and then took from his pocket anenvelope which he handed to me. 

"By the way I brought this with me, " he said, "in the hope that weshould be able to induce you to accede to our wishes. Inside you willfind a hundred-pound note, which should be sufficient to cover anypreliminary expenses. If you need more, perhaps you will be kind enoughto communicate with me at once, and it shall be sent you. A receipt canbe forwarded to me at your leisure. "

I thanked him and placed the envelope upon the table. In my own mind Ifelt that it would be an easy matter to guess whence the sum had come, and for a reason that I could not then analyze, and therefore am unableto describe, the thought irritated me. 

Having assured them that the amount would be quiet sufficient, in theevent of nothing unforeseen happening, to last for some considerabletime to come, I conducted them to the door, again repeating the promisethat I would communicate with them so soon as I had anything to report. If I had only known then, that, at the very moment when they stepped into the street, the man they wanted me to find for them, and whom theyhated so desperately, was standing in a shop on the other side of theroad, keeping an eye on my door, and evidently watching for theirdeparture, how much trouble and vexation of spirit we should all havebeen saved. But I did not know this until long afterwards, and then ofcourse the information came too late to be of any service to us. 

Next morning I was early at the office, being desirous of winding upanother little matter before I turned my attention to the new affair. One of my subordinates had just returned from the Continent whither Ihad sent him to keep an eye on a certain pseudo-French Marquis with whomI expected to have dealings at no distant date. He reported that thegentleman in question had broken the bank at Monte Carlo, had staked andlost all his winnings next day, and had shot himself on the promenade onthe evening following. With his death the affair, on which I hadconfidently expected to be employed, came to an end, I could not saythat I was altogether sorry. 

"I shall want you to leave on Friday, Turner, for St. Petersburg, " Isaid, when he had finished his report and I had commented upon it. "Doyou remember Paulus Scevanovitch, who was concerned in that attempt todefraud the Parisian jewellers, Maurel and Company, two years ago?"

"Yes, sir, I remember him perfectly, " Turner replied. "A tall, burlyman, with a bushy beard, the top of his little finger on the left handmissing, and a long white scar over his right eyebrow. "

"The same, " I answered. "I see you have not forgotten him. Well, I wantyou to find him out, and let me have an exact account of his movementsduring the next three weeks. The office will arrange your expenses inthe usual way, and you had better leave by the mail-train. In allprobability I shall see you off. "

"Very good, sir, " the man responded, and withdrew. 

He had scarcely gone before one of my clerks entered the room and handedme a card. On it was printed the name of Mr. Edward Bayley, and in theleft-hand bottom corner was the announcement that he was the ManagingDirector of the Santa Cruz Mining Company of Forzoda, in theArgentine Republic. 

"Show the gentleman in, Walters, " I said. 

In a few minutes a tall, handsome man, irreproachably turned out, entered the office. He seated himself in a chair the clerk placed forhim, put his hat and umbrella on another, and then turned to me. 

"My card has made you familiar with my name, Mr. Fairfax, " he began, "and doubtless, if you are at all familiar with mines and mining, youare acquainted with the name of the company I have the honour torepresent?"

"I am very much afraid the Mining Market does not possess very muchinterest for me, " I replied. "I have to work so hard for my money, thatwhen I have got it I prefer to invest it in something a little morereliable. May I inquire the nature of your business with me?"

"I have come to see you, Mr. Fairfax, " he said, speaking veryimpressively, and regarding me deliberately as he did so, "on rather adelicate subject. Before I explain what it is, may I ask that you willtreat what I am about to tell you as purely confidential?"

"My business is invariably a confidential one, " I answered for thesecond time in two days. "I venture to think that this room has heardmore secrets than almost any other in England. But though they say wallshave ears, I have never heard it said that they have tongues. "

"It is sometimes a good thing that they have not, " he replied. "And nowlet me tell you what business has brought me here. In the first place, if you do not already know it, I may say that the Company I represent isan exceedingly wealthy one, and, as our business lies a long way fromThreadneedle Street, if I may so put it, it is necessary for us to trustvery largely to the honesty of our _employés_ on the other side of theworld. Of course we make all sorts of inquiries about them prior toengaging their services, and it is also needless to say that we keep asharp eye on them when they have entered our employ. Nevertheless, it isquite possible, all precautions notwithstanding, for an unscrupulous manto take advantage of us. As a matter of fact, that is what has happened, and what has also brought me to you. For some considerable time past wehave had our suspicions that our manager at the mines has been in leaguewith a notorious rascal in New York. In proof of this, I might say thatour returns have shown a decided falling off, while our manager has, sowe have lately discovered, within the past year become rich enough topurchase property to a considerable extent in the United States. Unfortunately for us, owing to a lack of direct evidence, we are unableto bring his defalcations home to him, though of course we are ascertain of our facts as we can well be of anything. "

"I think I understand, " I said. "Your business with me is to endeavourto induce me to go out to the Argentine and make inquiries on yourbehalf with the idea of bringing this man to book. Is that not so?"

"That is my errand, " he replied gravely. "If you care to undertake thetask, we, on our side--and I speak as the mouthpiece of theCompany--will be prepared to pay you very high terms for your services;in point of fact, almost what you may ask in reason. The matter, as youmay suppose, is a most serious one for us, and every day's delay isadding to it. May I ask what your terms would be, and when would you beprepared to start?"

"Your offer is a most liberal one, " I said. "Unfortunately, however, Ifear there is a considerable difficulty in the way of my accepting it. "

"A difficulty!" he exclaimed, raising his eyebrows as if inastonishment. "But surely that obstacle can be removed. Especially foran offer of such magnitude as we are prepared to make you. "

"Excuse me, " I said, somewhat tartly, "but however great the inducementmay be, I never break faith with my clients. The fact of the matter is, only yesterday I promised to undertake another piece of business which, while not being so remunerative, perhaps, as that you are now puttingbefore me, means a very great deal to those who are, for the time being, my employers. "

"Would it be impertinent on my part to ask at what time yesterdayafternoon you arrived at this momentous decision?"

"Shortly after four o'clock, " I answered, but not without a littlewonderment as to his reason for putting the question. For my own part Idid not see what it had to do with the matter in hand. 

"Dear me, how very vexing, to be sure!" he observed. "This is certainlyanother instance of the contrariness of Fate. "

"How so?" I asked. 

"Because it was my intention to have called upon you shortly after lunchyesterday on this matter, " he answered. "Unfortunately I was preventedat the last moment. Had I been able to get here, I might haveforestalled your more successful client. Are you quite sure, Mr. Fairfax, that it is out of the question for you to undertake whatwe want?"

"If it is necessary for me to go at once, I fear it is, " I answered. "But if it would be of any use to you, I could send you a trustworthysubordinate; one who would be quite capable of undertaking the work, andwho would give you every satisfaction. "

"I fear that would not be the same thing, " he said. "My firm have suchimplicit faith in you that they would not entertain the idea of any oneelse going. Now think, Mr. Fairfax, for a moment. If you are prepared togo, I, in my turn, on behalf of my Company, am prepared to offer youyour expenses and a sum of five thousand pounds. You need not be awaymore than three months at longest, so that you see our offer is at therate of twenty thousand pounds a year. It is princely remuneration. "

I looked at him closely. It was plain that he was in earnest--in deadlyearnest, so it seemed. Even a defaulting manager would scarcely seem towarrant so much zeal. 

"I am very much flattered by your offer, " I said; "and believe me, Imost truly appreciate the generosity of your Company; but, as I saidbefore, if it is necessary for me to go at once, that is to say, beforeI have completed my present case, then I have no option but to mostreluctantly decline. "

"Perhaps you will think it over, " he continued, "and let me know, sayto-morrow?"

"No amount of thinking it over will induce me to alter my decision, " Ireplied. "You must see for yourself that I have no right to accept aretainer from one party and then throw them over in order to favouranother. That would not only be a dishonourable action on my part, butwould be bad from a business point of view. No, Mr. Bayley, I amexceedingly sorry, but I have no option but to act as I am doing. "

"In that case I must wish you a very good-morning, " he remarked, andtook up his hat and umbrella. I could see, however, that he was stillreluctant to go. 

"Good-morning, " I answered. "I hope your affairs in the Argentine maybrighten before very long. "

He shook his head gloomily, and then left the office without anotherword. 

When he had gone I answered some letters, gave some instructions to mymanaging clerk, and then donned my hat and set off for the office of theShipping Company that had brought Gideon Hayle to England. 

Unfortunately it transpired that they were not in a position to do verymuch in the way of helping me. Mr. Bertram had certainly travelled homein one of their steamers, so the manager informed me, a boat that as arule did not carry passengers. He had landed at the docks, and from thatmoment they had neither seen nor heard anything of him. I inquired forthe steamer, only to learn that she was now somewhere on her way betweenSingapore and Hong Kong. This was decidedly disappointing, but as mostof the cases in which I have been ultimately successful have hadunpromising beginnings, I did not take it too seriously to heart. Leaving the Shipping Office, I next turned my attention to HattonGarden, where I called upon Messrs. Jacob and Bulenthall, one of thelargest firms in the gem trade. We had had many dealings together in thepast, and as I had had the good fortune on one occasion to do them asignal service, I knew that they would now do all that they could for mein return. 

"Good-day, Mr. Fairfax, " said the chief partner, as I entered his snuglittle sanctum, which leads out of the main office. "What can I have thepleasure of doing for you?"

"I am in search of some information, " I replied, "and I think you may beable to help me. "

"I will do all that is in my power to render you assistance, " hereturned, as he wiped his glasses and placed them on his somewhat fleshynose. "What is the information you require? Has there been another bigrobbery of stones, and you think it possible that some of them may havecome into our hands?"

"There certainly has been a robbery, " I replied, "and the stones mayhave been offered to you, but not in the way you mean. The fact of thematter is, I want to discover whether or not a large consignment ofuncut rubies and sapphires of great value have been placed upon themarket within the last two months. "

"Uncut rubies and sapphires are being continually placed upon themarket, " he observed, leaning back in his chair and rattling his keys. 

"But not such stones as those I am looking for, " I said, and furnishedhim with the rough weights that had been supplied to me. 

"This is interesting--decidedly interesting, " he remarked. "Especiallysince it serves to offer an explanation on a certain matter in which wehave been interested for some little time past. On the sixteenth of lastmonth, a gentleman called upon us here, who stated that he had latelyreturned from the Far East. He had had, so he declared, the good fortuneto discover a valuable mine, the locality of which he was most carefulnot to disclose. He thereupon showed my partner and myself ten stones, consisting of five rubies and five sapphires, each of which weighedbetween fifty-five and sixty carats. "

"And you purchased them?"

"We did, and for a very heavy sum. I can assure you the vendor was verywell aware of their value, as we soon discovered, and he was also a goodhand at a bargain. Would you care to see the stones? I shall be pleasedto show them to you if you would. "

"I should like to see them immensely. " I replied. 

Thereupon he crossed the room to a safe in the corner, and, when he hadunlocked it, took from it a wash-leather bag. Presently ten superb gemswere lying before me on the table. 

"There they are, " he said, waving his hands towards them, "and as youcan see for yourself, they are worthy of being set in the crown of anemperor. It is not often that we are enthusiastic in such matters, butin this case we have very good reason to be. When they are properly cut, they will be well nigh priceless. "

"Do you happen to know whether he sold any more of a similar kind inLondon?" I asked, as he returned them to their place in the safe. 

"I know that he sold fifteen smaller ones to Henderson and Soil, andthree almost as large as those I have just shown you to a firm inAmsterdam. "

"If he is the man I want to get hold of, that accounts fortwenty-eight, " I said, making a note of the fact as I spoke. "Originallyhe had ninety-three in his possession. "

"Ninety-three?" the merchant replied, as if he could scarcely believehis ears. "Why, his mine must be a source of unlimited wealth. I wish Ihad known this before. "

"So do I, " I said. "And now perhaps you can go further and furnish mewith a description of the man himself. I shall then be able to tell youwhether my gentleman and your customer are one and the same person. "

"I can describe him to you perfectly well. He was tall, but somewhatsparely built, very sunburnt--which would be accounted for by his longresidence in the East--his hair was streaked with grey, he had darkeyes, and a singularly sharp nose. "

"Did he wear a beard?"

"No, only a moustache. The latter was carefully trimmed, and, I think, waxed. Of this, however, I am not quite certain. "

"And his name?"

"He would not tell us that. We pressed him to disclose it, but heobstinately refused to do so. He said that if his name became known itmight lead to the discovery of his mine, and that he was naturallyanxious that such an event should not occur. "

"But what guarantee had you that the stones were not stolen?"

"None whatever--but it is most unlikely. In the first place, they areuncut; in the second, we have had them in our possession for some time, and you may be sure have made the closest inquiries. Besides, there arefew such stones in Europe, and what there are, are safely in thepossession of their owners. Surely you are not going to tell me thatthey were stolen?"

In the man's voice there was a perceptible note of alarm. 

"I don't think you need be afraid, " I said. "They were stolen by the manfrom his two partners, and all they want is to get hold of him in orderto make him disgorge their share of what he got for them. "

"I am glad indeed to hear that, " was the reply. "I was beginning to growuneasy. And now is there any other way in which I can serve you? If so, I shall be only too pleased to do it. "

I informed him that, if I had anything else to ask him I would call uponhim again, and then took my departure. While I was in a great measuresatisfied with the information I had gained, I was not altogether easyin my mind. The question to be answered was, was the man I was after thesame individual who had sold Jacob and Bulenthall the stones? Thedescription given me varied in several particulars to that furnished meby Kitwater. My client declared him to possess black hair; the merchanthad said grey; the one had declared that Hayle possessed a beard, theother that he had only a waxed moustache. The figure, however, was inboth cases identically the same. 

Having satisfied myself that he had no more to tell me, I thanked himfor his courtesy and left the office. A fresh idea had occurred to mewhich I thought might lead to something, and I resolved to put it intopractice without any further waste of time. 

CHAPTER IV

It would be a truism to declare that human nature is about ascomplicated a piece of machinery as could be found in the human world. And yet I do not know why it should be considered so. All things and allmen do not run in grooves. A man to be a criminal need not be hopelesslybad in every other sense. I have met murderers who did not possesssufficient nerve to kill a rabbit, burglars who would rob a poor man ofall his possessions in the world, and yet would not despoil a littlechild of a halfpenny. The fact of the matter is we all have our betterpoints, our own innate knowledge of good and evil. Hayle had betrayedKitwater and Codd in the cruellest fashion possible, and by so doing hadcondemned them to the most fiendish torture the mind of man couldconceive. Yet it was through his one good point, his weakness, if Imight so describe it, that I was enabled to come to my first gripwith him. 

It was between the hours of two and three that I entered the gates ofBrompton Cemetery and commenced my examination of the various gravestherein contained. Up one path I wandered and down another in search ofthe resting-place of the poor crippled sister of whom Gideon Hayle hadbeen so fond. It was a long time before I found it, but at last I wassuccessful. To my astonishment the stone was plainly a new one, and thegrave was tastefully decorated with flowers. As a matter of fact it wasone of the prettiest in its neighbourhood, and to me this told its owntale. I went in search of the necessary official and put the case tohim. He informed me that I was correct in my supposition, and that thestone had only lately been erected, and, what was more to the point, heinformed me that the gentleman who had given the order for it, had onlythe week before paid the necessary sum for insuring the decoration ofthe grave for many years to come. 

"I gather from your words, that the gentleman, who must be a relative ofthe deceased, has been here lately, " I said. 

"He was here last Sunday afternoon, " the man replied. "He is a mostkindly and generous gentleman, and must have been very fond of hissister. The way he stood and looked at that stone the last time he washere was touching to see. He'd been in foreign parts, sir, and is likelyto go out there again, so I gathered from what he said. It is a pitythere are not more like him. "

This was news, indeed, and I pricked up my ears on hearing it. 

Having learnt all I was likely to discover, I thanked the man for hiskindness and left the cemetery. If I had done nothing else, I had atleast satisfied myself upon one point, and this was the fact thatGideon Hayle had been in London within the week. Under suchcircumstances it should not be very difficult to obtain his address. ButI knew from experience that when things seemed to be running mostsmoothly, they are as much liable to a breakdown as at any othertime--sometimes even more so. I accordingly hailed a cab and drove backto my office. Once there I entered up my diary according to custom, wrote a note to Kitwater, informing him that I had discovered thatGideon Hayle had not left London on the previous Sunday, and also that Ibelieved him to have negotiated certain of the stones in London, afterwhich I returned to my hotel to dine. 

Most people who know me would tell you that it might be consideredconsistent with my character that I still occupied the same apartmentsin the private hotel, off the Strand, in which I had domiciled myselfwhen I first arrived in England. If I am made comfortable I prefer tostick to my quarters, and the hotel in question was a quiet one; thecooking and the service were excellent, and, as every one did his, orher, best for me, I saw no sort of reason for moving elsewhere. It issomething in such matters to know the people with whom one has to deal, and in my case I could not have been better cared for had I been acrowned head. I suppose I am a bit of a faddist in these things. Exceptwhen business compels me to break through my rule, I rise at the samehour every morning, breakfast, lunch, and dine at the same time, and asfar as possible retire to rest punctually at the usual moment. Afterdinner in those days, things have changed since then somewhat. Iinvariably smoked a cigar, and when the evening was fine, went for astroll, returning between nine and ten and retiring to rest, unless Ihad anything to attend to, punctually at eleven. On this particularoccasion, the night being fine, though rather close, I lit my cigar inthe hall and stepped out into the street exactly as the clock wasstriking eight. I had a lot to think of, and felt just in the humour fora walk. London at all hours is a fascinating study to me, and howevermuch I see of her, I never tire of watching her moods. After I left myhotel I strolled along the Embankment so far as the Houses ofParliament, passed the Abbey, made my way down Victoria Street, and thenby way of Grosvenor Place to Hyde Park Corner. Opposite Apsley House Ipaused to look about me. I had my reasons for so doing, for ever since Ihad left the river-side, I had entertained the notion that I was beingfollowed. When I had crossed the road at the Houses of Parliament, twomen, apparently of the loafer class, had crossed too. They had followedme up Victoria Street, and now, as I stood outside the Duke ofWellington's residence, I could see them moving about on the other sideof the way. What their intentions were I could not say, but that theirobject was to spy upon my movements, I was quite convinced. In order toassure myself of this fact I resolved to lay a little trap for them. Passing down Piccadilly at a sharp pace, I turned into Berkeley Street, some twenty yards or so ahead of them. Crossing the road I shelteredmyself in a doorway and waited. I had not been there very long, before Iobserved that they had turned the corner and were coming along in hotpursuit. That they did not notice me in my hiding-place is evident fromthe fact that they passed on the other side of the street, and doubtlessthinking that they had missed me, commenced to run. I thereupon quittedmy friendly doorway, returned to Piccadilly, hailed a cab, and droveback to my hotel. As I went I turned the matter over in my mind. Withthe exception of the present case I had nothing important on hand, sothat I could think of no one who would be likely to set a watch upon me. That I did not suspect Hayle would only be natural under thecircumstances, as I did not know then that he had been the witness ofKitwater and Codd's visit to my office that afternoon, and I feltconvinced in my own mind that he was unaware that they were in England. It was most natural, therefore, that I should not in any way associatehim with the plot. 

The following day was spent for the greater part in making furtherinquiries in Hatton Garden, and among the various Dutch merchants thenin London. The story the senior partner of Messrs. Jacob and Bulenthallhad told me had proved to be correct, and there could be no sort ofdoubt that Hayle had realized a very large sum of money by thetransaction. What was more, I discovered that he had been seen in Londonwithin the previous twenty-four hours. This was a most important point, and it encouraged me to persevere in my search. One thing, however, wasremarkable. One or two of the merchants to whom Hayle had disposed ofhis stones, had seen more of him than Messrs. Jacob and Bulenthall. Twohad dined with him at a certain popular restaurant in Regent Street, andhad visited a theatre with him afterwards. In neither case, however, hadthey discovered his name or where he lived. This secret he guarded mostreligiously, and the fact that he did so, afforded additional food forreflection. If he imagined his old companions to be dead, why should hebe so anxious that his own identity, and his place of residence, shouldremain a secret? If they were safely out of the way, no one couldpossibly know of his connection with them, and in that case he might, ifhe pleased, purchase a mansion in Park Lane and flourish his wealthbefore the eyes of the world, for any harm it might do him. Yet here hewas, exciting mistrust by his secrecy, and leading a hole-and-cornersort of life when, as I have said, there was not the slightest necessityfor it. Little by little I was beginning to derive the impression thatthe first notion of Mr. Hayle was an erroneous one, and that there wasmore in him than I supposed. This sentiment was destined to bestrengthened and in the very near future, by two remarkable discoveries. 

That evening I again went for a walk. Feeling fairly confident, however, that the men who had followed me before would do so again, I tookcertain precautions before I set out. One of my subordinates, a manremarkable for his strength, was ordered to be at the corner of mystreet at half-past eight. He was to wait there until I emerged from myhotel, himself remaining as far as possible out of sight. On thisoccasion I had planned my route deliberately. I made my way in the firstplace along the Strand as far as Trafalgar Square, down Cockspur Streetby way of the Haymarket to Regent Street, then on by Langham Place tothat vast network of streets that lies between Oxford Street and theEuston Road. 

I had some time before this found out that I was being followed again. The two men who had dodged my steps on the previous night were doing soagain, though the reason for their action was no more apparent. However, I had laid my plans most carefully, and hoped, if all went well, to beable to satisfy myself upon this point. I had plenty of enemies, I knew, as a man of my profession must of necessity have, but I could not thinkof one who would pry upon my movements like this. At last the time camefor action. Turning into a side street, I slackened my pace in order togive my pursuers time to come up. Apart from ourselves the street wasquite deserted, and, if they intended doing me harm, was quite darkenough to favour their plans. I could see as well as hear themapproaching. Then, when they were close upon me, I slipped my hand intomy coat-pocket, and turned and confronted them. My own man was softlycoming up from behind. 

"Now, my men, " I began, "what's the meaning of this? No, you can keepyour distance. It's no use thinking of violence, for I've got you beforeand behind. Take care that they don't get away, Wilson!"

"Aye, aye, sir, " the man replied. "I'll take good care of that. "

"Let's 'out him, ' Bill, " said the taller of the two men, and as he didso took a step towards me. 

[Illustration: "'LET'S OUT HIM, BILL, ' SAID THE TALLER OF THE TWO MEN"]

"Do you see this?" I inquired, producing my revolver as I spoke. "I amaware that it is not lawful to carry firearms in the streets of London, but when one has to deal with gentlemen like you, it becomes anecessity. Throw up your hands. "

They did as they were ordered without demur. Then turning to the tallerman I addressed him more particularly. 

"You seem to be the leader, " I said, "and for that reason I want to havea little talk with you. Your companion can take himself off as soon ashe pleases. If he does not, let me assure him that he will get intotrouble. Your intention to 'out me, ' as you call it, has failed, as youcan see, and when I have done with you I don't think the attempt will berepeated. Now get off, my man, and thank your stars that I have let yougo so easily. "

Never were the tables turned so quickly or so completely on a pair ofrogues, and the man I addressed seemed to think too. After a whisperedconversation with his companion, he walked away at his best pace, and wesaw no more of him. 

"Now, " I said, turning to the fellow who was left behind, "you will comealong with me to my office, and we'll have a little talk together. "

Our prisoner would have resisted, but certain warnings I was able togive him, induced him to change his mind. When we reached my office Iopened the door and conducted him to my sanctum, while Wilson followedclose behind and lit the gas. He then passed into the outer office, leaving me alone with my prisoner. On closer inspection he proved to bea burly ruffian, and would doubtless have proved an ugly customer totackle alone. He, in his turn, looked at me in some interest and then atthe door, as if he were half inclined to try the effect of a struggle. 

"First and foremost, do you know where you are and who I am?" I askedhim. 

"No, " he said, "I can't say as ever I set my eyes on yer afore lastnight, and I don't know yer bloomin' name or what yer are and Idon't want to. "

"Politeness is evidently not your strong point, " I commented. "Just lookat that!"

Taking a sheet of note-paper from the rack upon my table I handed it tohim. 

He did so, and I saw a look of surprise steal over his face. He lookedfrom it to me and then back again at the paper. 

"Fairfax, " he said. "The d---- Tec, the same as got poor old BillyWhitelaw scragged last year. "

"I certainly believe I had that honour, " I returned, "and it's justpossible, if you continue in your present career, that I may have thepleasure of doing the same for you. Now, look here, my man, there's someone else at the back of this business, and what I want to know is, whoput you up to try your hand upon me? Tell me that, and I will let you goand say no more about it. Refuse, and I must try and find some evidenceagainst you that will rid society of you for some time to come. Doubtless it will not be very difficult. "

He considered a moment before he replied. 

"Well, " he said, "I don't know as how I won't tell you, a seein' you'rewho yer are, and I am not likely to get anything out of the job. It wasa rare toff who put us on to it. Silk hat, frock-coat, and all as nattyas a new pin. He comes across us down in the Dials, stood us a couple ofdrinks, turfed out a suvring apiece, and then told us he wanted thegentleman at Rickford's Hotel laid by for a time. He told us 'ow yerwere in the habit of going about the streets at night for walks, andsaid as 'ow he would be down near the hotel that evenin' and when yercame out, he would strike a match and light a smoke just ter give us thetip like. We wos to foller yer, and to do the job wherever we could. Then we was to bring your timepiece to him at the back of St. Martin'sChurch in the Strand at midnight, and he would pay us our money and letus keep the clock for our trouble. Oh, yes, 'e's a deep un, jost take mytip for it. He knowed that unless we 'outed' yer properly, we'd not beable to get at your fob, and then 'e'd not have paid out. "

"I see, and not being successful on your first attempt, you followed meagain to-night, of course by his instructions as before?"

"That's so, guvner, " the man replied, "but I reckon we ain't agoin' tosee any money this trip. If I'd ha' knowed who you was, I wouldn't ataken this job in hand, not for no money. "

"That is where so many of you go wrong, " I said. "You fail to makesufficient inquiries before you commence business. And I understand youto say that the gentleman who put you up to it, is to be at the back ofSt. Martin's church to-night?"

"Yes, sir, that's so, " said the fellow. "He'll be there all right. "

"In that case I think I'll be there to meet him, " I continued. "It's apity he should not see some one, and I suppose you will not keep yourappointment?"

"Not if I knows it, " the man answered. Then he added regretfully, "Aregular toff--he was--free with his rhino as could be, and dressed up tothe nines. He chucked his 'arf soverings about as if they were dirt, he did. "

"It is sad to think that through your folly, no more of them will findthemselves into your pocket, " I said. "You should have done the tricklast night, and you would now be in the full enjoyment of your wealth. As it is you have had all your trouble for nothing. Now, that's all Iwant to say to you, so you can go and join your amiable companions assoon as you like. Just one word of advice, however, before you depart. Don't go near St. Martin's church to-night, and, when you want to kickanother unoffending citizen to death, be sure of your man before youcommence operations. "

As I said this I rang the bell and told Wilson to show him out, which hedid. 

"Now, " I said to myself after he had gone, "this looks like developinginto an affair after my own heart. I am most anxious to discover who mymysterious enemy can be. It might be Grobellar, but I fancy he is stillin Berlin. There's Tremasty, but I don't think he would dare venture toEngland. No, when I come to think of it, this business does not seem tobelong to either of them. "

I took from my pocket the watch which was to have played such animportant part in the drama and consulted it. It was just half-pasteleven, therefore I had exactly half-an-hour to get to the _rendezvous_. I called Wilson and congratulated him on the success which had attendedour efforts of that evening. 

"It's a good thing you came out of it so well, sir, " he said. "They werea nasty pair of chaps, and would have thought as much of 'outing' you asthey would of drinking a pot of ale. "

"But thank goodness, they didn't succeed, " I replied. "As the sayinggoes, 'a miss has never killed a man yet. ' And now, Wilson, you'd betterbe off home to bed. Turn out the gas before you go. Good-night!"

"Good-night, sir, " he answered, and then I put on my hat and left theoffice. 

I found when I stepped into the street that the character of the nighthad changed. Thick clouds obscured the sky, and a few drops of rain werefalling. At first I felt inclined to take a cab, but on second thoughtsI changed my mind, and putting up my umbrella strode along in thedirection of St. Martin's church. 

The theatres were over by this time, and the streets were beginning togrow empty. I passed the Gaiety where a middle-aged gentleman, decidedlyintoxicated, was engaged in a noisy altercation with a policeman, whowas threatening to take him to Bow Street if he did not go quietly home, and at last approached the spot for which I was making. I took up myposition on the darker side of Holywell Street, and waited. So far Iseemed to have the thoroughfare to myself, but I had still some three orfour minutes to wait. 

At last midnight sounded, and as I heard it I concealed myself morecarefully in my doorway and watched. I was not to be kept long insuspense, for the new day was scarcely three minutes old, when a hansomdrove up to the other side of the church, and a man alighted. He paidoff the man and wished him good-night, and then came along the roadwayat the back of the church. From where I stood I could see his figuredistinctly, but was not able to distinguish his face. He was dressed ina black cloak, and wore a deer-stalker hat upon his head. That he wasthe man I wanted I felt sure, for what would any one else be doing thereat such an hour? That he was surprised at not finding his bravoesawaiting him was very certain, for he looked up the street, down thestreet, peered into Holywell Street, where, thank goodness, he did notsee me, then along the Strand in a westerly direction, and afterwardscame and took up his position within half-a-dozen paces of where I washidden. Presently he took a cigar-case from his pocket, opened it, selected a weed, and struck a match to light it. The flame illumined hisface so that I could see it distinctly. If I had not had myself wellunder control, I believe I should have uttered an exclamation ofsurprise that could not have failed to attract attention. _The man whohad set those rascals on to try and get rid of me, was none other thanMr. Edward Bayley, the Managing Director of the Santa Cruz MiningCompany of the Argentine Republic!_

Here was a surprise indeed! What on earth did it all mean?

CHAPTER V

I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved toomuch for me. What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting torid himself of me? Only the morning before he had been anxious to securemy services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiringa couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take mylife. When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake halfthe night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try howI would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution. Upon one thing, however, I had quite made up my mind. As soon as the City offices wereopen, I would call at that of the Santa Cruz Mining Company, and put afew questions to Mr. Bayley which I fancied that individual would finddifficult and rather unpleasant to answer. This plan I carried out, andat ten o'clock I stood in the handsome outer office of the Company. 

"I should be glad to see the managing director, if he could spare me afew moments, " I said to the youth who waited upon me in answer to hisquestion. 

"He's engaged, sir, at present, " the lad replied. "If you will take aseat, however, I don't fancy he will be very long. "

I did as he directed, and in the interval amused myself by studying alarge map of the Argentine Republic, which hung upon the wall. I hadpractically exhausted its capabilities when the door opened, and a tall, military-looking man emerged and passed out into the street. 

"What name shall I say, sir?" inquired the clerk, as he descended fromhis high stool and approached me. 

"Fairfax, " I replied, giving him my card. "I think the manager will knowmy name. "

The clerk disappeared to return a few moments later with the requestthat I would follow him. Preparing myself for what I fully expectedwould be a scene, I entered the director's sanctum. It was a handsomeroom, and was evidently used as a Boardroom as well as an office, forthere was a long table in the middle, surrounded by at least a dozenchairs. At the furthest end a gentleman of venerable appearance wasseated. He rose as I entered, and bowed to me. 

"In what way can I be of service to you, Mr. Fairfax?" he inquired, after I had seated myself. 

"I am afraid there has been a mistake, " I answered, looking about me forMr. Bayley. "I told the clerk that I desired to see the managingdirector. "

"You _are_ seeing him, " he returned with a smile, "for I am he. "

"In that case I must have misunderstood the gentleman who called upon metwo days ago, " I replied, with some surprise. 

"Do I understand you to say that a gentleman from this office calledupon you?"

"Yes, a Mr. Bayley, a tall, good-looking man, of between thirty-eightand forty years of age. "

The old gentleman stared, as well he might. 

"But there is no Mr. Bayley here, " he said. "We have no one of that namein our employ. I fear the man, whoever he was, must have been playing atrick upon you. I sincerely trust he has done no damage. Might I askwhat he called upon you about?"

"He called on me on behalf of your Company, " I answered. "He informed methat for some time past you have ascertained the gravest suspicionsconcerning the manager of your mines in the Argentine. He said thatinformation had reached your ears to the effect that the man in questionwas in league with a notorious swindler in New York, and, though youcould not bring any proved charge against him, you were equally certainthat he was robbing you in order to fill his own pockets. He appeared tobe most anxious to persuade me to go to the Republic at once in orderthat I might inquire into matters and report to you. I was to be awaythree months, and was to be paid five thousand pounds and my expensesfor my trouble. "

"My good sir, this is really preposterous, " the old gentleman returned. "I can positively assure you that there is not a word of truth in hisassertion. Our manager in the Argentine is an old and valued friend, andI would stake my life on his fidelity. Nothing would induce us to thinkeven of sending a detective out to spy upon him. "

"I am beginning to believe that I should like to meet Mr. Bayley again, "I remarked. "He has a fine imagination, and, from what you tell me, itseems that I should have looked a fool had I gone out to South Americaon such an errand. "

"It would have been exceedingly inconvenient not only for you, but alsofor us, " said the manager. "I shall report this matter at the Boardmeeting to-day. We must endeavour to discover who this man is, and alsohis reasons for acting as he has done. Should we hear anything furtherupon the subject, we will at once communicate with you. "

"I should be glad if you will do so, " I replied. "I should like to getthis matter cleared up as soon as possible. There may be somethingbehind it that we do not understand. "

I thanked him for the interview, and then took my departure, morepuzzled by it than I had been by anything for a long time. When Ireached my office I took the card from a drawer, which Mr. EdwardBayley had sent to me, and despatched it by special messenger to theoffice of the famous mining company. That afternoon another surprise wasin store for me. Shortly after lunch, and when I was in the middle of aletter to Kitwater, a message was received through the telephone to theeffect that the managing director of the Santa Cruz Mining Company, whomI had seen that morning, was on his way to call upon me. 

"Something has evidently come to light, " I reflected. "Perhaps themystery surrounding Mr. Edward Bayley is about to be cleared up, for Imust confess I do not like the look of it. "

A quarter of an hour later the manager was ushered into my presence. 

"Good afternoon, Mr. Fairfax, " he said. "I have come to ask you, if youwill permit me, a few questions, and also to tell you that I think wehave discovered who it is that is masquerading as the occupant of myposition. You gave me this morning a rough description of the individualwho called upon you, can you recall anything particular about hisappearance. Any strange mark, for instance. Anything by which we shouldbe able to swear to his identity?"

"I would swear to his identity anywhere, without a mark" I replied. "Butsince you _do_ mention it, I remember that he had a small triangularscar upon his left cheek. "

"Then it is the same man after all, " said the manager. "That iscertainly extraordinary. When our secretary spoke to me about him afteryou had left I had my doubts; now, however, they are quite removed. Whyhe should have called upon you in such a guise is a question I cannotfor the life of me answer with any sort of satisfaction. "

"Perhaps you will be a little more explicit, " I said. "You have not toldme yet how it is that you have been able to locate the gentleman inquestion. This morning you must remember you had no sort ofremembrance of him. "

"In that case you must forgive me, " he replied. "As a matter of fact Iwas so much carried away by my excitement that I could think of nothingelse. However, I have promised you the story, and you shall have it. Some years ago, eight or ten perhaps, we had a young man working for usin the Argentine as an overseer. He was in many respects a brilliantyoung fellow, and would doubtless have done well for himself in time, had he been able to go straight. Unfortunately, however, he did not doso. He went from bad to worse. At last he was caught in a flagrant pieceof dishonesty, and was immediately discharged. When I tell you that thatyoung man had a mark such as you described upon his cheek, you may beable to derive some idea of what follows. "

"Might it not be a pure coincidence?" I replied. 

"Not in this case, I fancy, " he answered. "What makes me the moreinclined to believe that it is the same individual, is the fact that oursecretary met him in Leadenhall Street only a few days ago. He lookedolder, but had evidently prospered in the world. As a matter of fact, Warner described him as being irreproachably dressed, and turned out. Itrust his good fortune was honestly come by; but I must own, from what Iknow of him, that I have my doubts. "

"But what possible reason could this individual have for calling uponme, and why should he have made me such an offer as I have describedto you?"

The director shook his head. The question was evidently beyond him. 

"I can assign no sort of reason for it, " he said, "unless he has somehope of being able to get you out of England for a time. "

"I don't see how that could benefit him, " I replied. "I am connectedwith no case in which he has any sort of interest. "

"You never can tell, " the old gentleman replied. "From what I know ofhim, Gideon Hayle was always----"

"Gideon what?" I cried, springing to my feet. "Did I understand you tosay Gideon Hayle?"

"That's the name of the young man of whom I have been speaking to you, "he replied. "But what makes you so excited. "

"Because I can understand everything now?" I declared. "Good heavens!what an idiot I have been not to have seen the connection before! Now Iknow why Gideon Hayle tried to lure me out of England with hismagnificent offer. Now I see why he set these roughs upon me. It's allas plain as daylight!"

"I am afraid I do not quite understand, " said my companion in his turn. "But it is quite evident to me that you know more of Hayle's past lifethan I do!"

"I should think I did, " I replied. "By Jove, what a blackguard the manmust be! He robbed his two partners of enormous wealth in China, leftthem in the hands of the Chinese to be tortured and maimed for life, andnow that he knows that I am acting for them in order to recover theirtreasure, he endeavours to put me out of the way. But you've not done ityet, Mr. Hayle, " I continued, bringing my fist down with a bang upon thetable, "and what's more, clever as you may be, you are not likely toaccomplish such an end. You'll discover that I can take very good careof myself, but before very long you'll find that _you_ are being takencare of by somebody else. "

"This is a strange affair indeed, Mr. Fairfax, " said the manager, "andit is evident that I have been of some assistance to you. I need not saythat I am very glad, the more so because it is evident that our Companyis not involved in any system of fraud. I will not disguise from youthat I had my fears that it was the beginning of trouble for us all. "

"You may disabuse your mind of that once and for all, " I answered. "Ifthere is any trouble brewing it is for our friend, Mr. Hayle. Thatgentleman's reckoning is indeed likely to be a heavy one. I would notstand in his shoes for something. "

There was a brief and somewhat uncomfortable pause. 

"And now allow me to wish you a very good-afternoon, " the old gentlemanobserved. 

"Good-afternoon, " I replied, "and many thanks for the service you haverendered me. It has helped me more than I can say. "

"Pray don't mention it, my dear sir, don't mention it, " replied thekindly old gentleman, as he moved towards the door. "I am very glad tohave been useful to you. "

When he had gone I sat down at my desk to think. I had had a good manysurprises in my life, but I don't know that I had ever been moreastonished than I was that afternoon. If only I had been aware ofHayle's identity when he had called upon me two mornings before, howsimply everything might have been arranged! As a matter of fact I hadbeen talking with the very man I had been paid to find, and, what wasworse, had even terminated the interview myself. When I realizedeverything, I could have kicked myself for my stupidity. Why should Ihave suspected him, however? The very boldness of his scheme carriedconviction with it! Certainly, Mr. Gideon Hayle was a foeman worthy ofmy steel, and I began to realize that, with such a man to deal with, theenterprise I had taken in hand was likely to prove a bigger affair thanI had bargained for. 

"Having failed in both his attempts to get me out of the way, his nextmove will be to leave England with as little delay as possible, " I saidto myself. "If only I knew in what part of London he was staying, I'dransack it for him, if I had to visit every house in order to do so. Asit is, he has a thousand different ways of escape, and unless luckfavours me, I shall be unable to prevent him from taking his departure. "

At that moment there was a tap at the door and my clerk entered theroom. 

"Mr. Kitwater and Mr. Codd to see you, sir. "

"Show them in, " I said, and a moment later the blind man and hiscompanion were ushered into my presence. 

Codd must have divined from the expression upon my face that I was notpleased to see them. 

"You must forgive me for troubling you again so soon, " said Kitwater, ashe dropped into the chair I had placed for him, "but you can understandthat we are really anxious about the affair. Your letter tells us thatyou discovered that Hayle was in London a short time since, and that hehad realized upon some of the stones. Is it not possible for you todiscover some trace of his whereabouts?"

"I have not been able to do that yet, " I answered. "It will be ofinterest to you, however, to know that he called upon me here in thisroom, and occupied the chair you are now sitting in, three days ago. "

Kitwater clutched the arm of the chair in question and his face went aswhite as his beard. 

"In this room three days ago, and sitting in your presence, " he cried. "Then you know where he is, and can take us to him?"

"I regret that such a thing is out of my power, " I answered. "The mancame into and left this room without being hindered by me. "

Kitwater sprang to his feet with an oath that struck me as coming ratheroddly from the lips of a missionary. 

"I see it all. You are in league with him, " he cried, his face suffusedwith passion. "You are siding with him against us. By God you are, andI'll have you punished for it. You hoodwinked us, you sold us. You'vetaken our money, and now you've gone over and are acting for the enemy. "

I opened the drawer of my table and took out the envelope he had givenme when he had called. For a reason of my own, I had not banked the noteit contained. 

"Excuse me, Mr. Kitwater, " I said, speaking as calmly as I could, "butthere seems to be a little misunderstanding. I have not sold you, and Ihave not gone over to the enemy. There is the money you gave me, and Iwill not charge you anything for the little trouble I have been put to. That should convince you of my integrity. Now perhaps you will leave myoffice, and let me wash my hands of the whole affair. "

I noticed that little Codd placed his hand upon the other's arm. Ittravelled down until their hands met. I saw that the blind man wasmaking an effort to recover his composure, and I felt sure that heregretted ever having lost it. A moment later Codd came across the roomto my table, and, taking up a piece of paper, wrote upon it thefollowing words--

"Kitwater is sorry, I am sure. Try to forgive him. Remember what he hassuffered through Hayle. "

The simplicity of the message touched me. 

"Pray sit down a minute, Mr. Kitwater, " I said, "and let me put myselfright with you. It is only natural that you should get angry, if youthink I have treated you as you said just now. However, that does nothappen to be the case. I can assure you that had I known who Hayle was, I should have taken very good care that he did not leave this officeuntil you had had an interview with him. Unfortunately, however, I wasnot aware of his identity. I have encountered some bold criminals in mytime. But I do not know that I have ever had a more daring one than theman who treated you so badly. "

I thereupon proceeded to give him a rough outline of Hayle's interviewwith myself, and his subsequent treatment of me. Both men listened withrapt attention. 

"That is Hayle all over, " said Kitwater when I had finished. "It is nothis fault that you are not a dead man now. He will evade us if hepossibly can. The story of the roughs you have just told us shows thathe is aware that you are on the trail, and, if I know him at all, hewill try the old dodge, and put running water between you and himself assoon as possible. As I said to you the other day, he knows the world aswell as you know London, and, in spite of what people say, there arestill plenty of places left in it where he can hide and we shall neverfind him. With the money he stole from us he can make himself ascomfortable as he pleases wherever he may happen to be. To sum it allup, if he gets a week's start of us, we shall never set eyes onhim again. "

"If that is so we must endeavour to make sure that he does not get thatstart, " I replied. "I will have the principal ports watched, and in themeantime will endeavour to find out where he has stowed himself away inLondon. You may rest assured of one thing, gentlemen, I took this matterup in the first place as an ordinary business speculation. I am nowgoing on for that reason and another. Mr. Hayle tried a trick on me thatI have never had attempted before, and for the future he is my enemy aswell as yours. I hope I have set myself right with you now. You do notstill believe that I am acting in collusion with him?"

"I do not, " Kitwater answered vehemently. "And I most humbly apologizefor having said what I did. It would have served me right if you hadthrown the case up there and then, and I regard it as a proof of yourgood feeling towards us that you consent to continue your work upon it. To-day is Friday, is it not? Then perhaps by Sunday you may havesomething more definite to tell us. "

"It is just possible, I may, " I returned. 

"In that case I am instructed by my niece to ask if you will give us thepleasure of your company at Bishopstowe on that day. After the toils ofLondon, a day in the country will do you no harm, and needless to say weshall be most pleased to see you. "

I remembered the girl's pretty face and the trim neat figure. I am not alady's man, far from it, nevertheless I thought that I should like torenew my acquaintance with her. 

"I shall be very pleased to accept Miss Kitwater's invitation, providedI have something of importance to communicate, " I said. "Should I not beable to come, you will of course understand that my presence isrequired in London or elsewhere. My movements must of necessity beregulated by those of Mr. Hayle, and while I am attending to him I amnot my own master. "

Kitwater asked me one or two more questions about the disposal of thegems to the merchants in Hatton Garden, groaned as I describe theenthusiasm of the dealers, swore under his breath when he heard ofHayle's cunning in refusing to allow either his name or address to beknown, and then rose and bade me good-bye. 

During dinner that evening I had plenty to think about. The variousevents of the day had been so absorbing, and had followed so thick andfast upon each other, that I had little time to seriously digest them. As I ate my meal, and drank my modest pint of claret, I gave them myfullest consideration. As Kitwater had observed, there was no time towaste if we desired to lay our hands upon that slippery Mr. Hayle. Giventhe full machinery of the law, and its boundless resources to stop him, it is by no means an easy thing for a criminal to fly the countryunobserved; but with me the case was different. I had only my own andthe exertions of a few and trusted servants to rely upon, and it wastherefore impossible for us to watch all the various backdoors leadingout of England at once. When I had finished my dinner I strolled downthe Strand as far as Charing Cross Station. Turner was to leave for St. Petersburg that night by the mail-train, and I had some instructions togive him before his departure. I found him in the act of attending tothe labelling of his luggage, and, when he had seen it safely on thevan, we strolled down the platform together. I warned him of thedelicate nature of the operation he was about to undertake, and bade himuse the greatest possible care that the man he was to watch did notbecome aware of his intentions. Directly he knew for certain that thisman was about to leave Russia, he was to communicate with me by cypher, and with my representative in Berlin, and then follow him with all speedto that city himself. As I had good reason to know, he was a shrewd andintelligent fellow, and one who never forgot any instructions that mightbe given him. Knowing that he was a great votary of the GoddessNicotine, I gave him a few cigars to smoke on the way to Dover. 

"Write to me immediately you have seen your man, " I said. "Remember meto Herr Schneider, and if you should see----"

I came to a sudden stop, for there, among the crowd, not threecarriage-lengths away from me, a travelling-rug thrown over hisshoulder, and carrying a small brown leather bag in his hand, stoodGideon Hayle. Unfortunately, he had already seen me, and almost before Irealized what he was doing, he was making his way through the crowd inthe direction of the main entrance. Without another word to Turner, Iset off in pursuit, knowing that he was going to make his bolt, and thatif I missed him now it would probably be my last chance of coming togrip with him. Never before had the platform seemed so crowded. Anexasperating lady, with a lanky youth at her side, hindered my passage, porters with trucks piled with luggage barred the way just when I wasgetting along nicely; while, as I was about to make my way out into thecourtyard, and idiotic Frenchman seized me by the arm and implored me toshow him "ze office of ze money-changaire. " I replied angrily that I didnot know, and ran out into the portico, only to be in time to see GideonHayle take a seat in a hansom. He had evidently given his driver hisinstructions, for the man whipped up his horse, and went out of the yardat a speed which, at any other hour, would certainly have got him intotrouble with the police. I called up another cab and jumped into it, promising the man a sovereign as I did so, if he would keep the othercab in sight, and find out for me its destination. 

"Right ye are, sir, " the cabman replied. "You jest leave that to me. Iwon't let him go out of my sight. "

Then we, in our turn, left the yard of the station, and set offeastwards along the Strand in pursuit. Both cabmen were sharp fellowsand evidently familiar with every twist and turn of their famousLondon. In my time I have had a good many curious drives in one part ofthe world and another, but I think that chase will always rank first. Wetravelled along the Strand, about a hundred yards behind the othervehicle, then turned up Southampton Street, through Covent Garden by wayof Henrietta Street into Long Acre. After that I cannot pretend to haveany idea of the direction we took. I know that we passed through DruryLane, crossed High Holborn, to presently find ourselves somewhere at theback of Gray's Inn. The buildings of the Parcels' Post Depot markedanother stage in our journey. But still the other cab did not show anysign of coming to a standstill. Leaving Mount Pleasant behind us, weentered that dingy labyrinth of streets lying on the other side of theClerkenwell House of Detention. How much longer was the chase going tolast? Then, to my delight, the other cab slackened its pace, andeventually pulled up before a small public-house. We were so closebehind it that we narrowly escaped a collision. I sprang out, and ran tothe other vehicle in order to stop Hayle before he could alight. 

"Wot's up, guvner?" asked the cabman. "Don't go a worritting ofyourself. There's nobody inside. "

He was quite right, _the cab was empty_!

CHAPTER VI

I flatter myself that I am a man who is not easily disconcerted, but forthe second time that day I was completely taken aback. I had watchedthat cab so closely, had followed its progress so carefully, that itseemed impossible Hayle could have escaped from it. Yet there was thefact, apparent to all the world, that he had got away. I looked from thecab to the cabman and then at my own driver, who had descended from hisperch and was standing beside me. 

"Well, I wouldn't have believed it, " I said aloud, when I had recoveredsomewhat my astonishment. 

My own driver, who had doubtless begun to think that the sovereign I hadpromised him was in danger, was inclined to be somewhat bellicose. Itappeared as if he were anxious to make a personal matter of it, and inproof of this he sternly demanded of his rival what he had done withhis fare. 

"You don't think I've ate him, do yer?" asked that worthy. "What's itgot to do with me what a fare does? I set 'im down, same as I should doyou, and now I am on my way 'ome. Look arter your own fare, and take him'ome and put him ter bed, but don't yer a'come abotherin' me. I've donethe best day's work I've ever 'ad in my life, and if so be the pair ofyer like to come into the pub here, well, I don't know as I won't astand yer both a two of Scotch cold. It looks as if 'twould kind a'cheer the guvner up a bit, seem' as how he's dis'pointed like. Comeon now!"

It is one of my best principles, and to it I feel that I owe aconsiderable portion of my success, that I never allow my pride to standin the way of my business. The most valuable information is notunfrequently picked up in the most unlikely places, and for this reasonI followed my own Jehu and his rival into the public-house in question. The man was visibly elated by the good stroke of business he had donethat night, and was inclined to be convivial. 

"'e was a proper sort of bloke, " he said as we partook of ourrefreshment. "'e give me a fiver, 'e did, an' I wishes as 'ow I couldmeet another like 'im every day. "

"They do say as how one man's mutton is another man's poison, " retortedmy driver, who, in spite of the entertainment he was receiving, visiblyregarded the other with disfavour. "If you'd a give us the tip, I'd 'ave'ad my suvering. As it is I don't take it friendly like that you shoulda' bilked us. "

"Yer can take it as yer darned well please, " said the other, as he spokeplacing his glass upside down on the counter, in order to prove beyondcontradiction that it was empty. I immediately ordered a repetition, which was supplied. Thereupon the cabman continued--

"When I 'as a bit of business ter do yer must understand that I does it, and that no man can say as I doesn't. A gent gets into my keb and sezhe, 'Drive me until I tell yer to stop, and go as fast as yer can, ' sezhe. 'Take every back street yer know of, and come out somewhere Hoxtonway. I'm not partic'lar so long as I go fast, an' I don't git collaredby the keb that's after us. If yer help me to give 'im the slip there'sa five-poun' note for yer trouble. ' Well, sez I to myself, this is aproper bit of busness and there and then I sets off as fast as the old'orse cud take us. We turns up Southampton Street, and you turns upafter us. As we was agoin' down 'enrietta Street I asked him to let me'ave a look at his five-poun' note, for I didn't want no Bank of Fashionor any of that sort of truck shoved into me, you'll understand. 'Youneedn't be suspicious, Cabby, ' sez he, 'I'll make it suverings, if youlike, and half a one over for luck, if that will satisfy yer? 'When Itold him it would, he give me two poun' ten in advance and away we wentagain. We weren't more than 'arf a mile away from here--thank ye, sir, Idon't mind if I do, it's cold drivin'--well, as I was a sayin' we wasn'tmore than 'arf a mile away from here, when the gent he stands up and sezto me, 'Look here, Kebby, turn the next corner pretty sharp, and slowdown at the first bye-street you come to. Then I'll jump out, ' 'Rightyer are, guvner, ' sez I, and with that he 'ands me up the other twopoun' ten and the extry half-suvering. I fobbed it and whipped up theold 'oss. Next moment we was around the corner, and a-drivin' as if wewas a trying to ketch a train. Then we comes to a little side street, an' I slows down. Out 'e jumps and down he goes along a side street asif the devil was arter him. Then I drives on my way and pulls up 'ere. Bilked you were, guvner, and I don't mind sayin' so, but busness isbusness, and five poun' ten ain't to be picked up every day. I guess theold woman will be all there when I get 'ome to-night. "

"That's all very well, cabby, " I said, "but it's just likely you want toadd another sovereign to that five-pound ten. If you do I don't mindputting another in your way. I tell you that I want to catch the man Iwas after to-night. He's as big a thief as ever walked the earth, and ifyou will help me to put my hand upon him, you'll be doing a service, notonly to me, but to the whole country at large. "

"What is it you want me to do?" he asked suspiciously. "He treated mefair, and he'll take it mean of me if I help you to nab him. "

"I don't want you to do anything but to drive me to the side streetwhere you put him down. Then you can take your sovereign and be offhome as quick as you like. Do you agree?"

He hesitated for a space in which a man could have counted twenty, andthen set his glass upon the counter. 

"I'll do it, " he said. "I'll drive yer there, not for the suvering, butfor the good of the country yer speaks about. Come on. "

I gave my own man his money, and then followed the other out to his cab. He mounted to his box, not without some help, and we presently set off. Whether it was the effect of the refreshment he had imbibed, or whetherit was mere elation of spirits I cannot say, the fact, however, remainsthat for the whole of the journey, which occupied ten or twelve minuteshe howled vociferously. A more joyous cabman could scarcely have beendiscovered in all that part of London. At last he pulled his horse to astandstill, and descended from his seat. 

"This 'ere's the place, " he said, "and that's the street he bolted down. Yer can't mistake it. Now let's have a look at yer suvering, guvner, andthen I'll be off home to bed, and it's about time too. "

I paid him the sum I had promised him, and then made my way down thenarrow street, in the direction Hayle had taken. It was not more than acouple of hundred yards long, and was hemmed in on either hand bysqualid cottages. As if to emphasize the misery of the locality, andperhaps in a measure to account for it, at the further end I discovereda gin-palace, whose flaring lights illuminated the streets on eitherhand with brazen splendour. A small knot of loafers were clustered onthe pavement outside the public, and these were exactly the men Iwanted. Addressing myself to them I inquired how long they had been intheir present position. 

"Best part of an hour, guv'ner, " said one of them, pushing his handsdeep down into his pockets, and executing a sort of double shuffle as hespoke. "Ain't doin' any harm 'ere, I 'ope. We was 'opin' as 'ow a gentlike yourself would come along in the course of the evening just to askus if we was thirsty, and wot we'd take for to squench it. "

"You shall have something to squench it, if you can answer the questionsI am going to ask you, " I replied. "Did either of you see a gentlemancome down this street, running, about half-an-hour or so ago. "

"Was he carrying a rug and a bag?" asked one of the men withouthesitation. 

"He was, " I replied. "He is the man I want. Which way did he go when heleft here?"

"He took Jim Boulter's cab, " said another man, who had until a fewmoments before been leaning against the wall. "The Short 'Un wasalookin' after it for 'im, and I heard him call Jimmy myself. He tossedthe Short 'Un a bob, he did, when he got in. Such luck don't seem everto come my way. "

"Where is the Short 'Un, as you call him?" I inquired, thinking that itmight be to my advantage to interview that gentleman. 

"A-drinkin' of his bob in there, " the man answered. "Where d'ye thinkye'd be a-seein' 'im? Bearin' 'isself proud like a real torf, and atclosen' time they'll be chuckin' 'im out into the gutter, and then 'iswife 'll come down, and they 'll fight, an' most like both of 'em 'llget jugged before they knows where they is, and come before the beak inthe mornin'. "

"Look here, " I said, "if one of you will go in and induce the gentlemanof whom you speak to come out here and talk to me, I would not mindtreating the four of you to half-a-crown. "

The words had scarcely left my lips before a deputation had entered thehouse in search of the gentleman in question. When they returned withhim one glance was sufficient to show me that the Short 'Un was in adecidedly inebriated condition. His friends, however, deeming itpossible that their chance of appreciating my liberality depended uponhis condition being such as he could answer questions with some sort ofintelligence, proceeded to shake and pummel him into somethingapproaching sobriety. In one of his lucid intervals I inquired whetherhe felt equal to telling me in what direction the gentleman who hadgiven him the shilling had ordered the cabman to drive him. He turnedthe question over and over in his mind, and then arrived at theconclusion that it was "some hotel close to Waterloo. "

This was certainly vague, but it encouraged me to persevere. 

"Think again, " I said; "he must have given you some definite address. "

"Now I do remember, " said the man, "it seems to me it was Foxwell'sHotel, Waterloo Road. That's where it was, Foxwell's Hotel. Don'tyou know it?

 "Foxwell's Hotel is a merry, merry place, When the jolly booze is flowin', flowin' free. "

Now chorus, gen'men. "

Having heard all I wanted to, I gave the poor wretches what I hadpromised them, and went in search of a cab. As good luck would have it Iwas able to discover one in the City Road, and in it I drove off in thedirection of Waterloo. If Hayle were really going to stay the night atFoxwell's Hotel, then my labours had not been in vain, after all. But Ihad seen too much of that gentleman's character of late to put any trustin his statements, until I had verified them to my own satisfaction. Iwas not acquainted with Foxwell's Hotel, but after some little search Idiscovered it. It was by no means the sort of place a man of Hayle'swealth would be likely to patronize, but remembering that he hadparticular reasons for not being _en evidence_ just at present, I couldunderstand his reasons for choosing such a hostelry. I accordingly paidoff my cabman and entered the bar. Taking the young lady I found there alittle on one side, I inquired whether a gentleman had arrived withinthe last half-hour, carrying a bag and a heavy travelling-rug. 

Much to my gratification she replied that such a gentleman had certainlyarrived within the past half-hour, and was now at supper in thecoffee-room. She inquired whether I would care to see him? I replied inthe negative, stating that I would call next day and make myselfknown to him. 

"We are old friends, " I said, "and for that reason I should be glad ifyou would promise me that you will say nothing to him about my comingto-night. "

Woman-like the idea pleased her, and she willingly gave the promise Iasked. 

"If you want to see him you'd better be here early, " she said. "He toldme when he booked his room, that he should be wanting to get away atabout ten o'clock to-morrow morning. "

"I'll be here well before that, " I replied. "If all goes right, I shallcall upon him between eight and nine o'clock. "

Feeling sure that, after what I had said to her, she would say nothingto Hayle about my visit, I returned to my own hotel and retiredto rest. 

Next morning I was up betimes, had breakfasted, and was at Foxwell'sHotel before eight o'clock had struck. I proceeded straight to the bar, where I discovered my acquaintance of the previous evening, in curlpapers, assiduously dusting shelves and counter. There was a fragranceof the last night's potations still hovering about the place, which hadthe dreary, tawdry appearance that was so different to the glamour ofthe previous night. I bade the girl good-morning, and then inquiredwhether she had seen anything of my friend. At first she did not appearto recognize me, but on doing so she volunteered to go off and makeinquiries. She did so, to return a few moments later with theinformation that the gentleman "had rung for his boots, and would bedown to breakfast in a few minutes. "

"I wonder what you will have to say for yourself when you see me, Mr. Hayle, " I muttered. "You will find that I am not to be so easily shakenoff as you imagine. "

I accordingly made my way to the dining-room, and seating myself at atable, ordered a cup of coffee and an egg. The London egg is not afavourite of mine, but I was prepared to eat a dozen of them ifnecessary, if by so doing I could remain in the room long enough to findmyself face to face with Gideon Hayle. Several people put in anappearance and commenced their morning repast, but when a quarter of anhour had elapsed and the man I wanted had not presented himself, mypatience became exhausted and I went in search of my _hourie_ ofthe bar. 

"My friend's a long time coming down, " I said, "I hope he has not goneout to breakfast?"

"You must be mistaken, " she answered. "I saw him come down-stairs nearlya quarter of an hour ago. He went into the dining-room, and I felt sureyou must have seen him. If you will follow me I'll show him to you. "

So saying she led the way along the dingy passage until she arrived at agreen baize door with two glass panels. Here she stopped and scanned thedining-room. The boots, who had just come upstairs from the lowerregions, assisted in the operation, and seemed to derive considerablesatisfaction from it. 

"There he is, " said the girl, pointing to a table in the furthest cornerof the room; "the tall man with the black moustache. "

I looked and was consumed with disappointment. The individual I sawthere was no more like Hayle than he was like the man in the moon. 

"Do you mean to tell me that he is the man who arrived late last nightin a cab, and whose luggage consisted of a small brown bag and atravelling rug?" I asked. "You've been having a game with me, youngwoman, and I should advise you to be careful. You don't realize whoI am. "

"Hoighty toity, " she said, with a toss of her head that sent hercurl-papers dancing. "If you're going to be nasty, I am going. You askedfor the gentleman who came late last night with a bag, and there he is. If he's not the person you want, you mustn't blame me. I'm sure I'm notresponsible for everybody's friends. Dear me, I hope not!"

The shock-headed boots had all this time been listening with thegreatest interest. He and the barmaid, it appeared, had had a quarrelearlier in the morning, and in consequence were still far from beingupon the best of terms. 

"The cove as the gent wants, miss, must be 'im as came close upon eleveno'clock last night, " he put in. "The toff with the bag and blanket. WhyI carried his bag up to number forty-seven with my own 'ands, andyou know it. "

The girl was quite equal to the occasion. 

"You'd better hold your tongue, " she said. "If you don't you'll get intotrouble. "

"What for?" he inquired. "It's a free country, I 'ope. Nice sort of toff'e was, forgot all about the boots, and me a-doin' 'is browns as slap-upas if 'e was a-goin' out to dinner with the Queen. But p'reaps he's lefta 'arf-sovereign for me with you. It ain't likely. Oh no, of course itisn't likely he would. You wouldn't keep it carefully for me, would you?Oh no, in course not? What about that two bob the American gentgive you?"

The girl did not wait to hear any more, but with a final toss of herhead, disappeared into the bar. 

"Now, look here, my friend, " I said to the boots, "it is quite evidentthat you know more about this gentleman than that young lady does. Tellme all about him, and I'll make it worth your while. "

"There ain't much to tell, " he answered. "Leastways, nothin' particular. He was no end of a toff, great-coat with silk collar, neat browns, gloves, and a bowler 'at. "

"Moustache?"

"Yes, and waxed. Got a sort of broad-arrow on his cheek, and looked atye as if 'is eyes was gimlets, and he wanted to bore a hole through yer;called at seven, breakfast at half-past, 'am and eggs and two cups ofcorfee and a roll, all took up to 'im in 'is room. Ordered a cab tocatch the nine o'clock express to Southampton. I puts 'im in with hisbag and blanket, and says, 'Kindly remember the boots, sir, ' and hesays, 'I've done it, ' I said I 'adn't 'ad it, and he told me to go to------, well the place as isn't mentioned in perlite company. That's all Iknow about 'im. "

He paused and shook his head in the direction of the bar, after which heobserved that he knew all about it, and one or two other things beside. 

I gave him a shilling for his information and then left the house. Oncemore I had missed Gideon Hayle by a few minutes, but I had received someinformation that might help me to find him again. Unfortunately, however, he was now well on his way to Southampton, and in a few hoursmight be out of England. My respect for that astute gentleman wasincreasing hourly, but it did not deter me, only made me the moreresolved to beat him in the end. Making my way to Waterloo, I inquiredwhen the next train left for Southampton. Finding that I had more thanan hour and a half to wait, I telegraphed to the man I had sent toSouthampton to watch the docks, and then took the electric railway tothe city, and made my way to my office, where a pile of correspondenceawaited me on my table. Calling my managing clerk to my assistance, Iset to work to examine it. He opened the letters while I perused themand dictated the various replies. When he came to the fifth he utteredan exclamation of surprise. 

"What is it?" I inquired. "Anything wrong?"

In reply he handed me a letter written on good note-paper, but withoutan address. It ran as follows--

"Mr. Gideon Hayle returns thanks for kind inquiries, and begs to informMr. Fairfax that he is leaving England to-day for Algiers. "

"If he thinks he is going to bluff me with that sort of tale, he's verymuch mistaken, " I said. "I happen to be aware of the fact that he leftfor Southampton by the nine o'clock train this morning. If I mighthazard a guess as to where he was going, I should say that hisdestination is the Cape. But let him go where he will, I'll have himyet. In the meantime, send Williams to Charing Cross at once, Roberts toVictoria, and Dickson to St. Paul's. Furnish each with a description ofthe man they are to look after, be particular about the scar upon hisleft cheek, and if they see him, tell them that they are not to losesight of him, happen what may. Let them telegraph should they discoveranything definite, and then go in pursuit. In any case I shall returnfrom Southampton to-night, and shall call here at once. "

Half-an-hour later I arrived at Waterloo, took my ticket and boarded thetrain for Southampton. When I reached the port I was met at the stationby my representative, who informed me that he had seen nothing of theman I had described, although he had carefully looked for him. 

"We'll try the various shipping-offices first, " I said. "I feelpositively certain that he came down here by the nine o'clock train. "

We drove from shipping-office to shipping-office, and made the mostcareful inquiries, but in every case without success. Once we thought wehad discovered our man, only to find, after wasting a precious hour, that the clerk's description was altogether a wrong one, and that heresembled Hayle in no sort of way. We boarded the South Africanmail-boat, but he was not among her passengers; we overhauled theAmerican liner, with an equally barren result. We paid cursory visits tothe principal hotels, but could hear no tidings of him in any one ofthem. As a matter of fact, if the man had journeyed to Southampton, as Ihad every reason to suppose he had done, he must have disappeared intothin air when he got there. The whole affair was most bewildering, and Iscarcely knew what to think of it. That the boots at the hotel had notbeen hoodwinking me I felt assured in my own mind. His anger against theman was too real to allow any doubt upon that point. At last, havingexhausted all our resources, and not seeing what I could do further, Ireturned to my subordinate's lodgings, where it had been arranged thattelegrams should be addressed to me. On my arrival there a yellowenvelope was handed to me. I tore it open eagerly and withdrew thecontents. It proved to be from Dickson, and had been sent off fromDover. I took my codebook from my pocket and translated the message uponthe back of the telegraph-form. It ran as follows--

"Man with triangular scar upon left cheek, brown bag and travelling rug, boarded train at Herne Hill, went through to Dover, and has booked toParis. Am following him according to instructions. "

"Then he slipped me after all, " I cried. "He must have gone on toWaterloo, crossed to Cannon Street, then on to London Bridge. Thecunning scoundrel! He must have made up his mind that the biggest bluffhe could play upon me was to tell the truth, and by Jove! he was notvery far wrong. However, those laugh best who laugh last, and though hehas had a very fair innings so far, we will see whether he can beat mein the end. I'll get back to Town now, run down to Bishopstowe to-morrowmorning to report progress, and then be off to Paris after himon Monday. "

At 8. 45 that night I reached London. At the same moment Mr. Gideon Haylewas sitting down to a charming little dinner at the Café des Princes, and was smiling to himself as he thought of the success that hadattended the trick he had played upon me. 

CHAPTER VII

When I reached the charming little Surrey village of Bishopstowe, Icould see that it bore out Kitwater's description of it. A prettierlittle place could scarcely have been discovered, with its tree-shadedhigh-road, its cluster of thatched cottages, its blacksmith's shop, rustic inn with the signboard on a high post before the door, and lastbut not least, the quaint little church standing some hundred yards backfrom the main road, and approached from the lych-gate by an avenueof limes. 

"Here, " I said to myself, "is a place where a man might live to be ahundred, undisturbed by the rush and bustle of the Great World. "

That was my feeling then, but since I have come to know it better, andhave been permitted an opportunity of seeing for myself something of theinner life of the hamlet, I have discovered that it is only the life ofa great city, on a small scale. There is the same keen competition intrade, with the same jealousies and bickerings. However, on thispeaceful Sunday morning it struck me as being delightful. There was anold-world quiet about it that was vastly soothing. The rooks cawedlazily in the elms before the church as if they knew it were Sundaymorning and a day of rest. A dog lay extended in the middle of theroad, basking in the sunshine, a thing which he would not have dared todo on a weekday. Even the little stream that runs under the old stonebridge, which marks the centre of the village, and then winds itstortuous course round the churchyard, through the Squire's park, andthen down the valley on its way to the sea, seemed to flow somewhat moreslowly than was its wont. 

Feeling just in the humour for a little moralizing, I opened thelych-gate and entered the churchyard. The congregation were singing thelast hymn, the Old Hundredth, if I remember rightly, and the sound oftheir united voices fitted perfectly into the whole scheme, giving itthe one touch that was lacking. As I strolled along I glanced at theinscriptions on the various tomb-stones, and endeavoured to derive fromthem some notion of the lives and characters of those whose memoriesthey perpetuated. 

"Sacred to the memory of Erasmus Gunning, twenty-seven yearsSchoolmaster of this Parish. Born 24th of March, 1806, and rested fromhis labours on September the 19th, 1876. " Seating myself on the low wallthat surrounded the churchyard, I looked down upon the river, and whileso doing, reflected upon Erasmus Gunning. What had he been like, thisknight of the ferrule, who for twenty-seven years acted as pedagogue tothis tiny hamlet? What good had he done in his world? Had he realizedhis life's ambition? Into many of the congregation now worshippingyonder he must have driven the three R's, possibly with the assistanceof the faithful ferrule aforesaid, yet how many of them gave a thoughtto his memory! In this case the assertion that he "rested from hislabours" was a trifle ambiguous. Consigning poor Erasmus to oblivion, Icontinued my walk. Presently my eyes caught an inscription that made mehalt again. It was dedicated to the "Loving Memory of William Kitwater, and Susan, his wife. " I was still looking at it, when I heard a step onthe gravel-path behind me, and turning round, I found myself standingface to face with Miss Kitwater. To use the conventional phrase, churchhad "come out, " and the congregation was even now making its way downthe broad avenue towards the high-road. 

"How do you do, Mr. Fairfax?" said Miss Kitwater, giving me her hand asshe spoke. "It is kind indeed of you to come down. I hope you have goodnews for us?"

[Illustration: "'HOW DO YOU DO, MR. FAIRFAX?' SAID MISS KITWATER. "]

"I am inclined to consider it good news myself, " I said. "I hope youwill think so too. "

She did not question me further about it then, but asking me to excuseher for a moment, stepped over the little plot of ground where her dearones lay, and plucked some of the dead leaves from the flowers that grewupon it. To my thinking she was just what an honest English girl shouldbe; straight-forward and gentle, looking the whole world in the facewith frank and honourable simplicity. When she had finished her labourof love, which only occupied her a few moments, she suggested that weshould stroll on to her house. 

"My uncle will be wondering what has become of me, " she said, "and hewill also be most anxious to see you. "

"He does not accompany you to church then?"

"No, " she answered. "He is so conscious of his affliction that he cannotbear it to be remarked. He usually stays at home and walks up and down apath in the garden, brooding, I am afraid, over his treatment by Mr. Hayle. It goes to my heart to see him. "

"And Mr. Codd?"

"He, poor little man, spends most of his time reading such works onArchæology as he can obtain. It is his one great study, and I amthankful he has such a hobby to distract his mind from his own trouble. "

"Their coming to England must have made a great change in your life, " Iremarked. 

"It _has_ made a difference, " she answered. "But one should not leadone's life exactly to please one's self. They were in sore distress, andI am thankful that they came to me, and that I had the power tohelp them. "

This set me thinking. She spoke gravely, and I knew that she meant whatshe said. But underlying it there was a suggestion that, for some reasonor another, she had not been altogether favourably impressed by hervisitors. Whether I was right in my suppositions I could not tell then, but I knew that I should in all probability be permitted a betteropportunity of judging later on. We crossed the little bridge, andpassed along the high road for upwards of a mile, until we foundourselves standing at the entrance to one of the prettiest littlecountry residences it has even been my lot to find. A drive, some thirtyyards or so in length, led up to the house and was shaded by overhangingtrees. The house itself was of two stories and was covered by creepers. The garden was scrupulously neat, and I fancied that I could detect itsmistress's hand in it. Shady walks led from it in various directions, and at the end of one of these I could discern a tall, restless figure, pacing up and down. 

"There is my uncle, " said the girl, referring to the figure I have justdescribed. "That is his sole occupation. He likes it because it is theonly part of the garden in which he can move about without a guide. Howempty and hard his life must seem to him, now, Mr. Fairfax?"

"It must indeed, " I replied. "To my thinking blindness is one of theworst ills that can happen to a man. It must be particularly hard to onewho has led such a vigorous life as your uncle has done. "

I could almost have declared that she shuddered at my words. Did sheknow more about her uncle and his past life than she liked to thinkabout? I remembered one or two expressions he had let fall in hisexcitement when he had been talking to me, and how I had commented uponthem as being strange words to come from the lips of a missionary. I hadoften wondered whether the story he had told me about their life inChina, and Hayle's connection with it, had been a true one. Thetenaciousness with which a Chinaman clings to the religion of hisforefathers is proverbial, and I could not remember having ever heardthat a Mandarin, or an official of high rank, had been converted to theChristian Faith. Even if he had, it struck me as being highly improbablethat he would have been the possessor of such princely treasure, andeven supposing that to be true, that he would, at his death, leave it tosuch a man as Kitwater. No, I fancied if we could only get at the truthof the story, we should find that it was a good deal more picturesque, not to use a harsher term, than we imagined. For a moment I had almostbeen tempted to believe that the stones were Hayle's property, and thatthese two men were conducting their crusade with the intention ofrobbing him of them. Yet, on maturer reflection, this did not fit in. There was the fact that they had certainly been mutilated as theydescribed, and also their hatred of Hayle to be weighed in one balance, while Hayle's manifest fear of them could be set in the other. 

"If I am not mistaken that is your step, Mr. Fairfax, " said the blindman, stopping suddenly in his walk, and turning his sightless face in mydirection. "It's wonderful how the loss of one's sight sharpens one'sears. I suppose you met Margaret on the road. "

"I met Miss Kitwater in the churchyard, " I replied. 

"A very good meeting-place, " he chuckled sardonically. "It's where mostof us meet each other sooner or later. Upon my word, I think the deadare luckier than the living. In any case they are more fortunate thanpoor devils like Codd and myself. But I am keeping you standing, won'tyou sit down somewhere and tell me your news? I have been almostcounting the minutes for your arrival. I know you would not be hereto-day unless you had something important to communicate to me. You havefound Hayle?"

He asked the question with feverish eagerness, as if he hoped within afew hours to be clutching at the other's throat. I could see that hisniece noticed it too, and that she recoiled a little from him inconsequence. I thereupon set to work and told them of all that hadhappened since I had last seen them, described my lucky meeting withHayle at Charing Cross, my chase after him across London, the trick hehad played me at Foxwell's Hotel, and my consequent fruitless journey toSouthampton. 

"And he managed to escape you after all, " said Kitwater. "That man wouldoutwit the Master of all Liars Himself. He is out of England by thistime, and we shall lose him. "

"He has not escaped me, " I replied quietly. "I know where he is, and Ihave got a man on his track. "

"Then where is he?" asked Kitwater. "If you know where he is, you oughtto be with him yourself instead of down here. You are paid to conductthe case. How do you know that your man may not bungle it, and that wemay not lose him again?"

His tone was so rude and his manner so aggressive, that his niece wasabout to protest. I made a sign to her, however, not to do so. 

"I don't think you need be afraid, Mr. Kitwater, " I said more soothinglythan I felt. "My man is a very clever and reliable fellow, and you maybe sure that, having once set eyes on Mr. Hayle, he will not lose sightof him again. I shall leave for Paris to-morrow morning, and shallimmediately let you know the result of my search. Will that suit you?"

"It will suit me when I get hold of Hayle, " he replied. "Until then Ishall know no peace. Surely you must understand that?"

Then, imagining perhaps, that he had gone too far, he began to fawn uponme, and what was worse praised my methods of elucidating a mystery. Icannot say which I disliked the more. Indeed, had it not been that I hadpromised Miss Kitwater to take up the case, and that I did not want todisappoint her, I believe I should have abandoned it there and then, outof sheer disgust. A little later our hostess proposed that we shouldadjourn to the house, as it was neatly lunch-time. We did so, and I wasshown to a pretty bedroom to wash my hands. It was a charming apartment, redolent of the country, smelling of lavender, and after London, asfresh as a glimpse of a new life. I looked about me, took in thecleanliness of everything, and contrasted it with my own dingyapartments at Rickford's Hotel, where the view from the window was notof meadows and breezy uplands, but of red roofs, chimney-pots, andconstantly revolving cowls. I could picture the view from this window inthe early morning, with the dew upon the grass, and the blackbirdswhistling in the shrubbery. I am not a vain man, I think, but at thisjuncture I stood before the looking-glass and surveyed myself. For thefirst time in my life I could have wished that I had beenbetter-looking. At last I turned angrily away. 

"What a duffer I am to be sure!" I said to myself. "If I begin to getnotions like this in my head there is no knowing where I may end. As ifany girl would ever think twice about me!"

Thereupon I descended to the drawing-room, which I found empty. It wasa true woman's room, daintily furnished, with little knick-knacks hereand there, a work-basket put neatly away for the Sabbath, and an openpiano with one of Chopin's works upon the music-rest. Leading out of thedrawing-room was a small conservatory, filled with plants. It was apretty little place and I could not refrain from exploring it. I ampassionately fond of flowers, but my life at that time was not one thatpermitted me much leisure to indulge in my liking. As I stood now, however, in the charming place, among the rows of neatly-arranged pots, I experienced a sort of waking dream. I seemed to see myself standing inthis very conservatory, hard at work upon my flowers, a pipe in my mouthand my favourite old felt hat upon my head. Crime and criminals werealike forgotten; I no longer lived in a dingy part of the Town, and whatwas better than all I had----

"Do you know I feel almost inclined to offer you the proverbial penny, "said Miss Kitwater's voice behind me, at the drawing-room door. "Is itpermissible to ask what you were thinking about?"

I am not of course prepared to swear it, but I honestly believe for thefirst time for many years, I blushed. 

"I was thinking how very pleasant a country life must be, " I said, making the first excuse that came to me. "I almost wish that I couldlead one. "

"Then why don't you? Surely it would not be so very difficult?"

"I am rather afraid it would, " I answered. "And yet I don't know why itshould be. "

"Perhaps Mrs. Fairfax would not care about it, " she continued, as wereturned to the drawing-room together. 

"Good gracious!" I remarked. "There is no Mrs. Fairfax. I am the mostconfirmed of old bachelors. I wonder you could not see that. Is not theword _crustiness_ written plainly upon my forehead?"

"I am afraid I cannot see it, " she answered. "I am not quite certain whoit was, but I fancy it was my uncle who informed me that youwere married. "

"It was very kind of him, " I said. "But it certainly is not the case. Ifear my wife would have rather a lonely time of it if it were. I amobliged to be away from home so much, you see, and for so long ata time. "

"Yours must be indeed a strange profession, Mr. Fairfax, if I may sayso, " she continued. "Some time ago I came across an account, in amagazine, of your life, and the many famous cases in which you hadtaken part. "

"Ah! I remember the wretched thing, " I said. "I am sorry that you shouldever have seen it. "

"And why should you be sorry?"

"Because it is a silly thing, and I have always regretted allowing theman to publish it. He certainly called upon me and asked me a lot ofquestions, after which he went away and wrote that article. Ever sincethen I have felt like a conceited ass, who tried to make himself outmore clever than he really was. "

"I don't think you would do that, " she said. "But, if you will let mesay so, yours must be a very trying life, and also an extremelydangerous one. I am afraid you must look upon human nature from a verystrange point of view!"

"Not more strange probably than you do, " I answered. 

"But you are continually seeing the saddest side of it. To you all themiseries that a life of crime entails, are visible. The greater part ofyour time is spent among desperate men who are without hope, and to whomeven their own shadows are a constant menace. I wonder that you stillmanage to retain your kind heart. "

"But how do you know that my heart is kind?" I inquired. 

"If for no other reason, simply because you have taken up my uncle'scase, " she answered. "Do you think when he was so rude to you just now, that I could not see that you pitied him, and for that reason youforbore to take advantage of your power? I know you have a kind heart. "

"And you find it difficult to assimilate that kind heart with theremorseless detective of Public Life?"

"I find it difficult to recognize in you the man who, on a certainnotable occasion, went into a thieves' den in Chicago unaccompanied, andafter a terrible struggle in which you nearly lost your life, succeededin effecting the arrest of a notorious murderer. "

At that moment the gong in the hall sounded for lunch, and I was by nomeans sorry for the interruption. We found Kitwater and Codd awaitingour coming in the dining-room, and we thereupon sat down to the meal. When we left the room again, we sat in the garden and smoked, and laterin the afternoon, my hostess conducted me over her estate, showed me hervineries, introduced me to her two sleek Jerseys, who had their home inthe meadow I had seen from the window; to her poultry, pigs, and thepigeons who came fluttering about her, confident that they would come tono harm. Meanwhile her uncle had resumed his restless pacing up and downthe path on which I had first seen him, Codd had returned to hisarchaeological studies, and I was alone with Miss Kitwater. We werestanding alone together, I remember, at the gate that separated thegarden from the meadowland. I knew as well as possible, indeed I hadknown it since we had met in the churchyard that morning, that she hadsomething to say to me, something concerning which she had not quitemade up her mind. What it was, however, I fancied I could hazard a verygood guess, but I was determined not to forestall her, but to wait andlet her broach it to me in her own way. This, I fancied, she was nowabout to do. 

"Mr. Fairfax, " she began, resting her clasped hands upon the bar of thegate as she spoke, "I want, if you will allow me, to have a serious talkwith you. I could not have a better opportunity than the present, and, such as it is, I want to make the best of it. "

"I am quite at your service, Miss Kitwater, " I replied, "and if I can beof any use to you I hope you will tell me. Pray let me know what I cando for you?"

"It is about my uncle and Mr. Codd that I want to speak to you, " shesaid, sinking her voice a little, as if she were afraid they might hear. 

"And what about them?"

"I want to be loyal to them, and yet I want to know what you think ofthe whole affair, " she said, looking intently at me as she spoke. "Believe me, I have good and sufficient reasons for my request. "

"I am to tell exactly what I think about their pursuit of this manHayle? And what chances of success I think they possess?" I said. 

"I am not thinking so much of their success, " she returned, "as of thereal nature of their case. "

"I believe I understand what is passing in your mind, " I said. "IndeedI should not be surprised if the suspicion you entertain is not the sameas I have myself. "

"You have been suspicious then?"

"I could scarcely fail to be, " I replied. 

"Perhaps you will tell me what you suspect?"

"Will you forgive me, in my turn, if I am abrupt, or if I speak my minda little too plainly?"

"You could not do that, " she answered with a sigh. "I want to know yourexact thoughts, and then I shall be able to form my own conclusions. "

"Well, " I said, "before I begin, may I put one or two questions to you?You will, of course, remember that I had never seen or heard of youruncle and Mr. Codd until they stopped me on Ludgate Hill. They were andpractically are strangers to me. I have heard their story of theirtreasure, but I have not heard what any one else has to say uponthe subject. "

"I think I understand. Now what are your questions?"

"In the first place, did your late father ever speak to you of hisbrother as being a missionary in China?"

She shook her head, and from the look upon her face I could see that Ihad touched upon something painful. This, at least, was one of thethings that had struck her as suspicious. 

"If he were a missionary, I am quite sure my father did not know it, "she said. "In fact I always understood that he was somewhat of ascapegrace, and in consequence could never settle down to anything. Thatis your first, now what is your second question, Mr. Fairfax?"

I paused for a moment before I replied. 

"My second partakes more of the nature of an assertion than a question, "I answered. "As I read it, you are more afraid of what may happen shouldthe two men meet than anything else. "

"Yes, that is just what I _am_ afraid of, " she replied. "My uncle'stemper is so violent, and his desire for revenge so absorbing, that Idare not think what would happen if he came into actual contact withHayle. Now that I have replied to your questions, will you give me theanswer I want? That is to say will you tell me what you think of thewhole affair?"

"If you wish it, I will, " I said slowly. "You have promised to permit meto be candid, and I am going to take advantage of that permission. In myown mind I do not believe the story they tell. I do not believe thatthey were ever missionaries, though we have convincing proofs that theyhave been in the hands of the Chinese. That Hayle betrayed them I havenot the least doubt, it seems consistent with his character, but wherethey obtained the jewels, that are practically the keystones to thewhole affair, I have no more notion than you. They may have beenhonestly come by, or they may not. So far as the present case isconcerned that fact is immaterial. There is still, however, one vitalpoint we have to consider. If the gems in question belong equally to thethree men, each is entitled to his proper share, either of the stones orof the amounts realized by the sale. That share, as you already know, would amount to a considerable sum of money. Your uncle, I take it, hasnot a penny-piece in the world, and his companion is in the samedestitute condition. Now we will suppose that I find Hayle for them, andthey meet. Does it not seem to you quite possible that your uncle's ragemight lead him to do something desperate, in order to revenge himselfupon the other? But if he could command himself he would probably gethis money? If, on the other hand, they do not meet, then what is to bedone? Forgive me, Miss Kitwater, for prying into your private affairs, but in my opinion it is manifestly unfair that you should have tosupport these two men for the rest of their existences. "

"You surely must see that I would rather do that than let my father'sbrother commit a crime, " she returned, more earnestly than she hadyet spoken. 

The position was decidedly an awkward one. It was some proof of thegirl's sterling qualities that she should be prepared to make such asacrifice for the sake of a man whom it was certainly impossible tolove, and for that reason even to respect. I looked at her with anadmiration in my face that I did not attempt to conceal. I said nothingby way of praise, however. It would have been an insult to her to haveeven hinted at such a thing. 

"Pardon me, " I said at last, "but there is one thing that must be takeninto consideration. Some day, Miss Kitwater, you may marry, and in thatcase your husband might not care about the arrangement you have made. Such things have happened before now. "

She blushed a rosy red and hesitated before she replied. 

"I do not consider it very likely that I shall ever marry, " sheanswered. "And even if I did I should certainly not marry a man whowould object to my doing what I consider to be my duty. And now that wehave discussed all this, Mr. Fairfax, what do you think we had betterdo? I understood you to say to my uncle that you intend leaving forParis to-morrow morning, in order to continue your search for the manHayle. Supposing you find him, what will you do then?"

"In such a case, " I said slowly, looking at her all the time, "I shouldendeavour to get your uncle's and Codd's share of the treasure from him. If I am successful, then I shall let him go where he pleases. "

"And supposing you are unsuccessful in obtaining the money or thegems?"

"Then I must endeavour to think of some other way, " I replied, "butsomehow I do not think I shall be unsuccessful. "

"Nor do I, " she answered, looking me full and fair in the face. "I fancyyou know that I believe in you most implicitly, Mr. Fairfax. "

"In that case, do you mind shaking hands upon it?" I said. 

"I will do so with much pleasure, " she answered. "You cannot imaginewhat a weight you have lifted off my mind. I have been so depressedabout it lately that I have scarcely known what to do. I have lain awakeat night, turning it over and over in my mind, and trying to convincemyself as to what was best to be done. Then my uncle told me you werecoming down here, and I resolved to put the case before you as I havedone and to ask your opinion. "

She gave me her little hand, and I took it and held it in my own. Then Ireleased it and we strode back along the garden-path together withoutanother word. The afternoon was well advanced by this time, and when wereached the summer-house, where Codd was still reading, we found that alittle wicker tea-table had been brought out from the house and thatchairs had been placed for us round it. To my thinking there is nothingthat becomes a pretty woman more than the mere commonplace act ofpouring out tea. It was certainly so in this case. When I looked at thewhite cloth upon the table, the heavy brass tray, and the silver jugsand teapot, and thought of my own cracked earthenware vessel, thenreposing in a cupboard in my office, and in which I brewed my cup of teaevery afternoon, I smiled to myself. I felt that I should never use itagain without recalling this meal. After that I wondered whether itwould ever be my good fortune to sit in this garden again, and to sip myOrange Pekoe from the same dainty service. The thought that I might notdo so was, strangely enough, an unpleasant one, and I put it from mewith all promptness. During the meal, Kitwater scarcely uttered a word. We had exhausted the probabilities of the case long since, and I soonfound that he could think or talk of nothing else. At six o'clock Iprepared to make my adieux. My train left Bishopstowe for London at thehalf-hour, and I should just have time to walk the distance comfortably. To my delight my hostess decided to go to church, and said she wouldwalk with me as far as the lych-gate. She accordingly left us and wentinto the house to make her toilet. As soon as she had gone Kitwaterfumbled his way across to where I was sitting, and having discovered achair beside me, seated himself in it. 

"Mr. Fairfax, " said he, "I labour under the fear that you cannotunderstand my position. Can you realize what it is like to feel shut upin the dark, waiting and longing always for only one thing? Could younot let me come to Paris with you to-morrow?"

"Impossible, " I said. "It is out of the question. It could not bethought of for a moment!"

"But why not? I can see no difficulty in it?"

"If for no other reason because it would destroy any chance of my evengetting on the scent. I should be hampered at every turn. "

He heaved a heavy sigh. 

"Blind! blind!" he said with despair in his voice. "But I know that Ishall meet him some day, and when I do----"

His ferocity was the more terrible by reason of his affliction. 

"Only wait, Mr. Kitwater, " I replied. "Wait, and if I can help you, youshall have your treasure back again. Will you then be satisfied?"

"Yes, I'll be satisfied, " he answered, but with what struck me as almostreluctance. "Yes, when I have my treasure back again I'll be satisfied, and so will Codd. In the meantime I'll wait here in the dark, the darkin which the days and nights are the same. Yes, I'll wait and waitand wait. "

At that moment Miss Kitwater made her reappearance in the garden, and Irose to bid my clients farewell. 

"Good-bye, Mr. Kitwater, " I said. "I'll write immediately I reach Paris, and let you know how I am getting on. "

"You are very kind, " Kitwater answered, and Codd nodded his head. 

My hostess and I then set off down the drive to the righ road which wefollowed towards the village. It was a perfect evening, and the sun wassetting in the west in a mass of crimson and gold. At first we talked ofvarious commonplace subjects, but it was not very long before we cameback, as I knew we should do, to the one absorbing topic. 

"There is another thing I want to set right with you, Miss Kitwater, " Isaid, as we paused upon the bridge to which I have elsewhere referred. "It is only a small matter. Somehow, however, I feel that I must settleit, before I can proceed further in the affair with any satisfactionto myself. "

She looked at me in surprise. 

"What is it?" she asked, "I thought we had settled everything. "

"So far as I can see that is the only matter that remains, " I answered. "Yet it is sufficiently important to warrant my speaking to you aboutit. What I want to know is, who I am serving?"

"I don't think I understand, " she said, drawing lines with her umbrellaupon the stone coping of the bridge as she spoke. 

"And yet my meaning is clear, " I returned. "What I want to be certain ofis, whether I am serving you or your uncle?"

"I don't think you are _serving_ either of us, " she answered. "You arehelping us to right a great wrong. "

"Forgive me, but that is merely trifling with words. I am going to becandid once more. You are paying the money, I believe?"

In some confusion she informed me that this certainly was the case. 

"Very well, then, I am certainly your servant, " I said. "It is yourinterests I shall have to study. "

"I can trust them implicitly to you, I am sure, Mr. Fairfax, " shereplied. "And now here we are at the church. If you walk quickly youwill be just in time to catch your train. Let me thank you again forcoming down to-day. "

"It has been a great pleasure to me, " I replied. "Perhaps when I returnfrom Paris you will permit me to come down again to report progress?"

"We shall be very pleased to see you, " she answered. "Now, good-bye, anda pleasant journey to you!"

We shook hands and parted. As I passed along the road I watched hermaking her way along the avenue towards the church. There was need forme to shake my head. 

"George Fairfax, " said I, "it would require very little of that younglady's society to enable you to make a fool of yourself. "

CHAPTER VIII

Unlike so many of my countrymen I am prepared to state that I detest theFrench capital. I always make my visits to it as brief as possible, then, my business completed, off I fly again, seeming to breathe morefreely when I am outside its boundaries. I don't know why this should beso, for I have always been treated with the utmost courtesy andconsideration by its inhabitants, particularly by those members of theFrench Detective Force with whom I have been brought in contact. 

On this visit I crossed with one of the cleverest Parisian detectives, aman with whom I have had many dealings. He was most anxious to ascertainthe reason of my visit to his country. My assurance that I was not insearch of any one of his own criminals seemed to afford him no sort ofsatisfaction. He probably regarded it as an attempt to put him off thescent, and I fancy he resented it. We reached Paris at seven o'clock, whereupon I invited him to dine with me at eight o'clock, at arestaurant we had both patronized on many previous occasions. Heaccepted my invitation, and promised to meet me at the time and place Inamed. On the platform awaiting our arrival was my man Dickson, to whomI had telegraphed, ordering him to meet me. 

"Well, Dickson, " I said, when I had bade the detective _an revoir_, "what about our man?"

"I've had him under my eye, sir, " he answered. "I know exactly what he'sbeen doing, and where he's staying. "

"That's good news indeed, " I replied. "Have you discovered anything elseabout him?"

"Yes, sir, " he returned. "I find that he's struck up a suddenacquaintance with a lady named Mademoiselle Beaumarais, and that theyare to dine together at the Café des Ambassadeurs to-night. They havebeen in and out of half the jewellers' shops in the Rue de la Paixto-day, and he's spending a mint of money on her. "

"They are dining at the Café des Ambassadeurs to-night, did you say? Atwhat time?"

"I cannot tell you that, sir, " Dickson replied. "I only know that theyare to dine there together to-night. "

"And pray how did you find that out?"

"I made inquiries as to who she was, where she lived, and then pumpedher maid, " he answered. 

"You did not do anything that would excite his suspicions, I hope, " Iput in. "You ought to know by this time what women are. "

"Oh, no, sir, you needn't be afraid, " he said. "I was too careful forthat. The maid and I are on very friendly terms. She believes me to be aRussian, and I've not denied it. "

"It would be safest not to do so, " I replied. "If she discovers that youare an Englishman, she might chance to mention the fact to her mistress. She would doubtless let it fall in conversation with him, and then allour trouble would be useless. You speak Russian, do you not?"

"Only pretty well, sir, " he answered. "I should be soon bowled out if Icame in contact with a real one. "

"Well, I think I will be somewhere near the Café des Ambassadeursto-night just to make sure of my man. After that I'll tell you whatto do next. "

"Very good, sir, " he returned. "I suppose you will be staying at thesame place?"

"Yes, the same place, " I replied. "If you have anything to communicate, you can either call, or send word to me there. "

I thereupon departed for the quiet house at which I usually take up myabode when in Paris. The big hotels are places I steer clear of, for thesimple reason that I often have business in connection with them, and itdoes not pay me to become too well known. At this little house I can goout and come in just as I please, have my meals at any time of the dayor night, and am as well cared for as at my own abode in London. On thisoccasion the old lady of the house greeted me with flatteringenthusiasm. She had received my telegram, she said, and my usual roomawaited me. I accordingly ascended to it in order to dress myself forthe dinner of the evening, and as I did so, thought of the prettybedroom I had seen on the previous day, which naturally led me to thinkof the owner of the house, at that moment my employer. In my mind's eyeI could see her just as she had stood on that old stone bridge atBishopstowe, with the sunset behind her and the church bells soundingacross the meadows, calling the villagers to evensong. How much betterit was, I argued, to be standing talking to her there in that old worldpeace, than to be dressing for a dinner at an up-to-date Frenchrestaurant. My toilet completed, I descended to the street, hired a_fiacre_, and drove to the restaurant where I had arranged to meet myfriend. The place in question is neither an expensive nor a fashionableone. It has no halls of mirrors, no dainty little cabinets, but, to mythinking, you can obtain the best dinner in all Paris there. On reachingit I found my guest had been the first to arrive. We accordinglyascended the stairs to the room above, where we selected our table andsat down. My companion was a witty little man with half the languages ofEurope on his tongue, and a knowledge of all the tricks and dodges ofall the criminal fraternity at his finger-ends. He has since written abook on his experiences, and a stranger volume, or one more replete witha knowledge of the darker side of human nature it would be difficult tofind. He had commenced his professional career as a doctor, and likemyself had gradually drifted into the detective profession. Among otherthings he was an inimitable hand at disguising himself, as many awretched criminal now knows to his cost. Even I, who know him so well, have been taken in by him. I have given alms to a blind beggar in thestreets, have encountered him as a _chiffonier_ prowling about thegutters, have sat next to him on an omnibus when he has been clothed asan artisan in a blue blouse, and on not one of those occasions have Iever recognized him until he made himself known to me. Among otherthings he was a decided epicure, and loved a good dinner as well as anyof his compatriots. Could you but see him with his napkin tucked underhis chin, his little twinkling eyes sparkling with mirth, and his facewreathed in smiles, you would declare him to be one of thejolliest-looking individuals you have ever encountered. See him, however, when he is on business and has a knotty problem to solve, andyou will find a different man. The mouth has become one of iron, theeyes are as fierce as fierce can be. Some one, I remember, likened himto the great Napoleon, and the description is an exceedingly apt one. 

"By the way, " I said, as we took a peep into our second bottle ofPerrier-Jouet, "there is a question I want to put to you. Do you happento be acquainted with a certain Mademoiselle Beaumarais?"

"I have known her for more years than she or I would care to remember, "he answered. "For a woman who has led the life she has, she wearsuncommonly well. A beautiful creature! The very finest shoulders in allParis, and that is saying something. "

He blew a kiss off the tips of his fingers, and raised his glass in herhonour. 

"I drink to her in this noble wine, but I do not let her touch my money. Oh no, _la belle Louise_ is a clever woman, a very clever woman, butmoney trickles through her fingers like water through a sieve. Let methink for a moment. She ruined the Marquis D'Esmai, the VicomteCotforét, Monsieur D'Armier, and many others whose names I cannot nowrecall. The first is with our noble troops in Cochin China, the secondis in Algeria, and the third I know not where, and now I have learntsince my arrival in Paris that she has got hold of a young Englishman, who is vastly wealthy. She will have all he has got very soon, and thenhe will begin the world anew. You are interested in that Englishman, of course?"

"How do you know that?"

"Because you question me about Mademoiselle Beaumarais, " he answered. "Agood many people have asked me about her at different times, but it isalways the man they want to get hold of. You, my astute Fairfax, areinterested in the man, not because you want to save him from her, butbecause he has done a little something which he should not have doneelsewhere. The money he is lavishing on Mademoiselle Louise, whence doesit come? Should I be very wrong if I suggested gems?"

I gave a start of surprise. How on earth did he guess this?

"Yes! I see I'm right, " he answered with a little laugh. "Well, I knewit a long time ago. Ah, you are astonished! You should surely neverallow yourself to be surprised by anything. Now I will tell you how Icome to know about the gems. Some time ago a certain well-known lady ofthis city lost her jewel-case in a mysterious manner. The affair wasplaced in my hands, and when I had exhausted Paris, I went to Amsterdam, _en route_ if necessary for London. You know our old friends, Levensteinand Schartzer?"

I nodded. I had had dealings with that firm on many occasions. 

"Well, as I went into their office, I saw the gentleman who has beenpaying his attentions to the lady we have been discussing, come out. Ihave an excellent memory for faces, and when I saw him to-night enteringthe Café des Ambassadeurs, I recognized him immediately. Thus themystery is explained. "

He shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands apart, like a conjurerwho has just vanished a rabbit or an orange. 

"Has the man of whom we are speaking done very wrong?" he inquired. 

"The stones he sold in London and Amsterdam belonged to himself and histwo partners, " I answered. "He has not given them their share of thetransaction. That is all. "

"They had better be quick about it then, or they are not likely to getanything. It would be a very big sum that would tempt _la belle Louise_to be faithful for a long period. If your employers really desire topunish him, and they are not in want of money, I should say do not letthem interfere. She will then _nibble-nibble_ at what he has got like amouse into a store of good things. Then presently that store will be allgone, and then she will give him up, and he, the man, will go out andshoot himself, and she will pick up somebody else, and will begin tonibble-nibble just as before. As I say, there will be somebody else, andsomebody else, right up to the end of the chapter. And with every oneshe will grow just an imperceptible bit older. By and by the wrinkleswill appear; I fancy there are just one or two already. Then she willnot be so fastidious about her hundred of thousand francs, and willcondescend to think of mere thousands. After that it will come to simplehundreds. Then there will be an interval--after which a garret, acharcoal brazier, and the Morgue. I have known so many, and it is alwaysthe same. First, the diamonds, the champagne, the exquisite littledinners at the best restaurants, and at last the brazier, the closeddoors and windows, and the cold stone slab. There is a moral in it, mydear friend, but we will not look for it to-night. When do you intend tocommence business with your man?"

"At once, " I answered. "He knows that I am after him and my only fear isthat he will make a bolt. I cannot understand why he is dallying inParis so long?"

"For the simple reason that he is confident he has put you off thescent, " was my companion's reply. "He is doing the one foolish thing thecriminal always does sooner or later; that is to say, he is becomingover-confident of his own powers to elude us. You and I, my friend, should be able to remember several such instances. Now, strange to say, I came across a curious one the other day. Would you care to hear it?"

He lit a cigarette and blew a cloud of smoke while he waited for myanswer. 

"Very much, " I said, being well aware that his stories were always worthhearing. 

"This is a somewhat remarkable case, " he said. "I will mention no names, but doubtless you can read between the lines. There was a man whomurdered his wife in order that he might marry another woman. Thethought which he gave to it, and the clever manner in which he laid hisplans, not only for the murder, but also for the disposal of the body, marked him as a criminal in the possession of a singularly brilliantintellect. He gave no hint to anybody, but left the country withoutleaving the faintest clue concerning his destination behind him. I wascalled in to take over the case, but after some consideration could makenothing of it. I have no objection to admitting that I was completelybaffled. Now it so happened that I discovered that the man's mother wasof Irish extraction. He, believing that he would be safe on that island, engaged a passage on board a steamer from Havre to Belfast. She was topick up at Southampton, Plymouth, and Bristol, _en route_. My man, who, by the way, was a very presentable person, and could be distinctlysociable when he pleased, endeavoured to make himself agreeable to thepassengers on board. On the first evening out of port, the conversationturned upon the value of diamonds, and one of the ladies on boardproduced some costly stones she happened to have in her possession. Themurderer, who, you must understand, was quite safe, was unhappily eatenup with vanity. He could not forego the boast that he was the possessorof a magnificent ring, which had been given him by the ex-EmperorNapoleon III. Needless to say this information excited considerableinterest, and he was asked to produce it for the general edification. 

"He declared that it was too late to do so that evening, but said that hewould do so on the morrow, or, at any rate, before he left the vessel. In the excitement of reaching Southampton the matter was for the momentforgotten, but on the day that they arrived in Plymouth one of the ladypassengers reminded him of his promise. This was followed by anotherapplication. Thus surrounded, the unhappy man found himself in theunpleasant position of being discovered in the perpetration of anuntruth, or of being compelled to invent some feasible tale in order toaccount for his not being able to produce the ring. It was at thisjuncture that he made his great mistake. Anxious, doubtless, to attractattention, he returned from his cabin with the astounding declarationthat the lock had been forced, and the famous ring stolen from his trunkin which it had lain concealed. He certainly acted his part well, but hedid not realize to what consequences it would lead. The matter wasreported to the police, and a search was made through the vessel. Thepassengers were naturally indignant at such treatment, and for the restof the voyage the man found himself taking, what you English 'call thecold shoulder. ' He reached Belfast, made his way into the country, andpresently settled down. Later on, when the pursuit had died down, itwas his intention to ship for America, where he was to be joined by thewoman, to obtain whom he had in the first place committed the crime. Nowobserve the result. Photographs of the missing man and the murderedwoman were circulated all through France, while not a few were sent toEngland. One of these pictures reached Plymouth, where it was shown tothe officer who had investigated the case on the boat on its way toIreland. He immediately recognized the man who had made the chargeagainst his fellow-passengers. After that it was easy to trace him toBelfast and his hiding-place on land. Extradition was, of course, granted, and he left the place. Had he not imagined that in his safetyhe could indulge his vanities, I confidently believe I should never havefound him. When you come to think of it, it is hard to come to theguillotine for a diamond that never existed, is it not?"

I agreed with him, and then suggested that we should amuse ourselves byendeavouring to find out how the dinner at the Café des Ambassadeurs wasprogressing. 

"They will proceed to a theatre afterwards, you may be sure, " mycompanion said. "In that case, if you like we could catch a glimpse ofthem as they come out. What do you say?"

I answered that I had not the least objection. 

"One night does not make much difference. To-morrow morning I shall makea point of meeting him face to face. "

"Should you require my assistance then, I shall be most pleased to giveit to you?" my companion replied. 

I thanked him for his offer, and then we left the restaurant together, hailed a cab, and drove to his flat. It consisted of four rooms situatedat the top of a lofty block of buildings near the river. From hiswindows he could look out over Paris, and he was wont to declare thatthe view he received in exchange was the most beautiful in the world. Fine as it was, I was scarcely so enthusiastic in my praise. 

Among other things they were remarkable for the simplicity of theirfurniture, and also for the fact that in the sitting-room there wasnothing to reveal the occupation of their owner. His clever old servant, Susanne, of whom 'twas said she would, did she but choose, make asclever a detective as her master (she had served him for more than fortyyears), brought us coffee so quickly that it would almost seem as if shehad been aware that we should reach the house at that particular moment. 

"We have plenty of time to spare, " said my host. "In the meantime itwill be necessary for us to find out what they are doing. If you willwait I will despatch a messenger, who will procure us the information. "

He wrote something on a half-sheet of note-paper, rang the bell, andhanded it to Susanne. 

"Give that to Leon, " he said, "and tell him to be off with it at once. "

The woman disappeared, and when she had gone we resumed ourconversation. Had he not had the good fortune to be such a great successin his own profession, what an admirable actor the man would have made!His power of facial contortion was extraordinary, and I believe that ondemand he could have imitated almost any face that struck his fancy. 

"And now with regard to our little excursion, " he said. "What would youlike to be? As you are aware, I can offer you a varied selection. Willyou be a workman, a pedlar, an elderly gentleman from the Provinces, ora street beggar?"

"I think the elderly gentleman from the Provinces would suit me best, " Ianswered, "while it will not necessitate a change of dress. "

"Very good then, so it shall be, " he replied. "We'll be a couple ofelderly gentlemen in Paris for the first time. Let me conduct you to mydressing-room, where you will find all that is necessary foryour make-up. "

He thereupon showed me to a room leading out of that in which we hadhitherto been sitting. It was very small, and lighted by means of askylight. Indeed, it was that very skylight, so he always declared, thatinduced him to take the flat. 

"If this room looked out over the back, or front, it would have beennecessary for me either to have curtains, which I abominate, or to runthe risk of being observed, which would have been far worse, " he hadremarked to me once. "Needless to say there are times when I find itmost necessary that my preparations should not be suspected. "

Taken altogether, it was a room that had a strange fascination for me. Ihad been in it many times before, but was always able to discoversomething new in it. It was a conglomeration of cupboards and shelves. Alarge variety of costumes hung upon the pegs in the walls, ranging fromsoldier's uniforms to beggar's rags. There were wigs of all sorts anddescriptions on blocks, pads of every possible order and for every partof the body, humps for hunchbacks, wooden legs, boots ranging from thepatent leather of the dandy to the toeless foot-covering of the beggar. There were hats in abundance, from the spotless silk to the mostmiserable head coverings, some of which looked as if they had beenpicked up from the rubbish-heap. There were pedlars' trays fitted withall and every sort of ware, a faro-table, a placard setting forth thefact that the renowned Professor Somebody or Other was a most remarkablephrenologist and worthy of a visit. In fact there was no saying whatthere was not there. Everything that was calculated to be useful to himin his profession was to be found in the room. 

For my own part I am not fond of disguises. Indeed on only two or threeoccasions, during the whole course of my professional career, have Ifound it necessary to conceal my identity. But to this wily littleFrenchman disguise was, as often as not, a common occurrence. 

Half-an-hour later, two respectable elderly gentlemen, looking more likeprofessors from some eminent _Lycée_ than detectives, left the house andproceeded in the direction of the Folly Theatre. The performance wasalmost at an end when we reached it, and we mingled with the crowd whohad assembled to watch the audience come out. The inquiries we had madeproved to be correct, and it was not very long before I saw the man Iwanted emerge, accompanied by a female, who could be no other thanMademoiselle Beaumarais. Hayle was in immaculate evening dress, and as Icould not but admit, presented a handsome figure to the world. A neatlittle brougham drew up beside the pavement in its turn, and into thisthey stepped. Then the door was closed upon them, and the carriagedrove away. 

"That's my man, " I said to my companion, as we watched it pass out ofsight. "To-morrow morning I shall pay him a little visit. I think youwere quite right in what you said about the money. That woman must havemade a fairly big hole in it already. "

"You may be quite sure of that, " he answered. "When she has finishedwith him there will not be much left for anybody else. "

"And now to get these things off and then home to bed. To-morrow will inall probability prove an exciting day. "

I accompanied him to his room and removed the disguise which had enabledme to see Hayle without his being aware of my identity, and then, bidding my friend good-night, returned to my abode. Before I went tobed, however, I sat down and wrote a report of my doings for MissKitwater. Little as I had to tell, the writing of this letter gave meconsiderable pleasure. I could imagine it coming like a breath fromanother world to that quiet house at Bishopstowe. I pictured the girl'sface as she read it, and the strained attention of the two men, who, needless to say, would hang on every word. When I had finished it I wentto bed, to dream that Gideon Hayle and I were swimming a race in theSeine for five gigantic rubies which were to be presented to the winnerby Miss Kitwater. 

Next morning I arose early, went for a stroll along the Boulevards, andreturned to breakfast at eight o'clock. In the matter of my breakfastsin Paris, I am essentially English. I must begin the day with a goodmeal, or I am fit for nothing. On this particular occasion I sat down onthe best of terms with myself and the world in general. I made anexcellent meal, did the best I could with the morning paper, for myFrench is certainly not above reproach, and then wondered when I shouldset out to interview the man whose flight from England had proved thereason of my visiting Paris. Then the door opened and the _concierge_entered with the words, "A gentleman to see Monsieur!" Next moment to myoverwhelming surprise no less a person than Gideon Hayle enteredthe room. 

CHAPTER IX

At the moment that I saw Hayle enter my room, you might, as the sayinggoes, have knocked me down with a feather. Of all that could possiblyhave happened, this was surely the most unexpected! The man hadendeavoured to get me out of his way in London, he had played all sortsof tricks upon me in order to put me off the scent, he had bolted fromEngland because he knew I was searching for him, yet here he wasdeliberately seeking me out, and of his own free will putting his headinto the lion's mouth. It was as astounding as it was inexplicable. 

"Good morning, Mr. Fairfax, " he said, bowing most politely to me as hespoke. "I hope you will forgive this early call. I only discovered youraddress an hour ago, and as I did not wish to run the risk of losing youI came on at once. "

"You appeared to be fairly desirous of doing so last week, " I said. "What has occurred to make you change your mind so suddenly?"

"A variety of circumstances have conspired to bring such a resultabout, " he answered. "I have been thinking the matter over, and notbeing able to determine the benefit of this hole-and-corner sort ofgame, I have made up my mind to settle it once and for all. "

"I am glad you have come to that way of thinking, " I said. "It will saveus both an infinity of trouble. You understand, of course, that Irepresent Messrs. Kitwater and Codd. "

"I am well aware of it, " he replied, "and in common fairness toyourself, I can only say that I am sorry to hear it. "

"May I ask why you are sorry?"

"Because you have the honour to represent the biggest pair of scoundrelsunhung, " he answered. "And in saying this, I pledge you my word that Iam by no means overstepping the mark. I have known them both for a greatmany years and can therefore speak from experience. "

Before going further with him I was desirous of convincing myself uponone point. 

"You knew them, then, when they were missionaries in China, I suppose?"

"That's the first time I have ever heard what they were, " he replied. "Kitwater a missionary! You must forgive my laughing, but the idea istoo ludicrous. I'll admit he's done a considerable amount of converting, but it has been converting other people's money into his own pockets. "

He laughed at his own bad joke, and almost instantly grew serious oncemore. He was quite at his ease, and, though he must have known that Iwas familiar with the story, or supposed story of his villainy, seemedin no way ashamed. 

"Now, Mr. Fairfax, " he went on, "I know that you are surprised to see methis morning, but I don't think you will be when we have had a littletalk together. First and foremost you have been told the story of thestones I possess?"

"I have heard Mr. Kitwater's version of it, " I answered cautiously. "Iknow that you robbed my clients of them and then disappeared!"

"I did not _rob_ them of the stones, " he said, not in the least offendedby the bluntness of my speech. "It is plain that you do not know how weobtained them. Perhaps it's as well that you should not, for there'smore behind, and you'd go and get them. No! We obtained them honestlyenough at a certain place, and I was appointed to carry them. For thisreason I secured them in a belt about my waist. That night the Chinesecame down upon us and made us prisoners. They murdered our two nativeservants, blinded Kitwater, and cut out Codd's tongue. I alone managedto effect my escape. Leaving my two companions for dead, I managed toget away into the jungle. Good Heavens! man, you can't imagine what Isuffered after that. "

I looked at him and saw that his face had grown pale at the mererecollection of his experiences. 

"At last I reached the British outpost of Nampoung, on theBurmah-Chinese border, where the officers took me in and played thepart of the good Samaritan. When I was well enough to travel, I made myway down to Rangoon, where, still believing my late companions to bedead, I shipped for England. "

"As Mr. George Bertram, " I said quietly. "Why under an assumed namewhen, according to your story, you had nothing to fear?"

"Because I had good and sufficient reason for so doing, " he replied. "You must remember that I had a quarter of a million's worth of preciousstones in my possession, and, well, to put it bluntly, up to that time Ihad been living what you might call a make-shift sort of life. For thefuture I told myself I was going to be a rich man. That being so Iwanted to start with a clean sheet. You can scarcely blame me!"

I did not answer him on this point, but continued my cross-examination. 

"You reached London, and sold some of the stones there, later on youdisposed of some more in Amsterdam. Why did you refuse the dealers yourname and address?"

Once more he was quite equal to the occasion. 

"Because if I had told them, everybody would have got to know it, and, to be perfectly frank with you, I could not feel quite certain thatKitwater and Codd were really dead. "

"By that I am to presume that you intended if possible to swindle themout of their share?" I asked, not a little surprised by his admission. 

"Once more, to be quite frank with you, I did. I have no desire to berude, but I rather fancy you would have done the same had you beensimilarly situated. I never was much of a success in the moralbusiness. "

I could well believe this, but I did not tell him so. 

"When did you first become aware that they were in London?"

"On the day that they landed, " he answered. "I watched every ship thatcame in from Rangoon, and at last had the doubtful satisfaction ofseeing my two old friends pass out of the dock-gates. Poor beggars, theyhad indeed had a hard time of it. "

"Then you could pity them? Even while you were robbing them?"

"Why not, " he answered. "There was no reason because I had the stonesthat I should not feel sorry for the pain they had suffered. I had toremember how near I'd been to it myself. "

This speech sounded very pretty though somewhat illogical. 

"And pray how did you know that they had called in my assistance?"

"Because I kept my eyes on them. I know Mr. Kitwater of old, you see. Iwatched them go into your office and come out from a shop on the otherside of the street. "

The whole mystery was now explained. What an amount of trouble I shouldhave been spared had I only known this before?

"You did not approve then of my being imported into the case?"

"I distinctly disapproved, " he answered. "I know your reputation, ofcourse, and I began to see that if you took up their case for them Ishould in all probability have to climb down. "

"It is doubtless for that reason you called upon me, representingyourself to be Mr. Bayley, Managing Director of that South AmericanMining Company? I can now quite understand your motive. You wanted toget me out of the way in order that I might not hunt you? Is thatnot so?"

"You hit the nail upon the head exactly. But you were virtuous, andwould not swallow the bait. It would have simplified matters from mypoint of view if you had. I should not have been compelled to waste mymoney upon those two roughs, nor would you have spent an exceedinglyuncomfortable quarter of an hour in that doorway in Holywell street. "

This was news indeed. So he had been aware of my presence there? I putthe question to him. 

"Oh! Yes! I knew you were there, " he said with a laugh. "And I can tellyou I did not like the situation one bit. As a matter of fact I foundthat it required all my nerve to pretend that I did not know it. Everymoment I expected you to come out and speak to me. I can assure you thefailure of my plot was no end of a disappointment to me. I had expectedto see the men I had sent after you, and instead I found you myself. "

"Upon my word, Mr. Hayle, if I cannot appreciate your actions I must sayI admire your candour. I can also add that in a fairly long experienceof--of----"

"Why not say _of criminals_ at once, Mr. Fairfax?" he asked with asmile. "I assure you I shall not be offended. We have both our own viewson this question, and you of course are entitled to air yours if itpleases you. You were about to observe that----"

"That in all my experience I had never met any one who could so calmlyown to an attempt to murder a fellow-being. But supposing we now come tobusiness. "

"With all my heart, " he answered. "I am as anxious as yourself to geteverything settled. You will admit that it is rather hard lines on a manwho can lay his hands upon a quarter of a million of money, to have agentleman like yourself upon his trail, and, instead of being able toenjoy himself, to be compelled to remain continually in hiding. I am anindividual who likes to make the most of his life. I also enjoy thesociety of my fellow-men. "

"May we not substitute 'woman'?" I asked. "I am afraid your quarter of amillion would not last very long if you had much to do with MademoiselleBeaumarais. "

"So you have heard of her, have you?" he answered. "But you need have nofear. Dog does not eat dog, and that charming lady will not despoil meof very much! Now to another matter! What amount do you think yourclients would feel inclined to take in full settlement of theirclaim upon me?"

"I cannot say, " I answered. "How many of the gems have you realizedupon?"

"There were ninety-three originally, " he said when he had consulted hispocket-book, "and I have sold sixty, which leaves a balance ofthirty-three, all of which are better than any I have yet disposed of. Will your clients be prepared to accept fifty thousand pounds, ofcourse, given without prejudice. "

"Your generosity amazes me, " I answered. "My clients, your partners, areto take twenty-five thousand pounds apiece, while you get off, scot-free, after your treatment of them, with two hundred thousand. "

"They may consider themselves lucky to get anything at all, " heretorted. "Run your eye over the case, and see how it stands. You mustknow as well as I do that they haven't a leg to stand upon. If I wantedto be nasty, I should say let them prove that they have a right to thestones. They can't call in the assistance of the law----"

"Why not?"

"Because to get even with me it would be necessary for them to makecertain incriminating admissions, and to call certain evidence thatwould entail caustic remarks from a learned judge, and would notimprobably lead to a charge of murder being preferred against them. No, Mr. Fairfax, I know my own business, and, what is better, I know theirs. If they like to take fifty thousand pounds, and will retire intoobscurity upon it, I will pay it to them, always through you. But Iwon't see either of them, and I won't pay a halfpenny more than Ihave offered. "

"You don't mean to tell me that you are in earnest?"

"I am quite in earnest, " he answered. "I never was more so. Will youplace my offer before them, or will you not?"

"I will write and also wire them to-day, " I said. "But I think I knowexactly what they will say. "

"Point out the applicability of the moral concerning the bird in thehand. If they don't take what they can get now, the time may come whenthere may be nothing at all. I never was a very patient man, and I canassure you most confidentially, that I am about tired of this game. "

"But how am I to know that this is not another trick on your part, andthat you won't be clearing out of Paris within a few hours? I shouldpresent a sorry picture if my clients were to accept your generousoffer, and I had to inform them that you were not on hand to backit up. "

"Oh, you needn't be afraid about that, " he said with a laugh. "I am notgoing to bilk you. Provided you play fair by me, I will guarantee to dothe same by you. With the advantages I at present enjoy, I am naturallymost anxious to know that I can move about Europe unmolested. Besides, you can have me watched, and so make sure of me. There is that beautifulmyrmidon of yours, who is so assiduously making love to MademoiselleBeaumarais's maid. Give him the work. "

I was more than surprised to find that he knew about this business. Hesaw it, and uttered one of his peculiar laughs. 

"He didn't think I knew it, " he said. "But I did! His cleverness is alittle too marked. He overacts his parts, and even Shakespeare will tellyou how foolish a proceeding that is. If you doubt my word concerning mystay in Paris, let him continue to watch me. You know where I am living, and for that reason you can come and see me whenever you like. As aproof of my sincerity, may I suggest that you give me the pleasure ofyour company at dinner to-night. Oh, you needn't be afraid. I'm not aCæsar Borgia. I shall not poison your meat, and your wine will not bedrugged. It will be rather a unique experience, detective and criminaldining together, will it not? What do you say?"

The opportunity was so novel, that I decided to embrace it. Why should Inot do so since it was a very good excuse for keeping my man in sight?He could scarcely play me any tricks at a fashionable restaurant, and Iwas certainly curious to study another side of this man's complexcharacter. I accordingly accepted his invitation, and promised to meethim at the well-known restaurant he named that evening. 

"In the meantime you will telegraph to your clients, I suppose, " hesaid. "You may be able to give me their reply this evening whenwe meet. "

"I shall hope to be in a position to do so, " I answered, after which hebade me good-bye, and picking up his hat and stick left the room. 

"Well, " I said to myself when I was alone once more, "this is the mostextraordinary case upon which I have ever been engaged. My respect forMr. Hayle's readiness of resource, to say nothing of his impudence, isincreasing by leaps and bounds. The man is not to be met every day whocan rob his partners of upwards of a hundred and seventy thousandpounds, and then invite the detective who is sent after him to afriendly dinner. "

I sat down and wrote a letter to Miss Kitwater, telling her all thathad occurred; then went out to despatch it with a telegram to Kitwaterhimself, informing him of the offer Hayle had made. I could guess theparoxysm of rage into which it would throw him, and I would willinglyhave spared his niece the pain such an exhibition must cause her. Icould see no other way out of it, however. The message having beendespatched, I settled myself down to wait for a reply, with all thepatience I could command. In my own mind I knew very well what it wouldbe. It was not so much the money that Kitwater wanted, as revenge. ThatHayle's most miserable offer would only increase his desire for it, Ifelt certain. Shortly after three o'clock, the reply arrived. It wasshort, and to the point, and ran as follows--

"Tell him I will have all or nothing. "

Here was a nice position for a man to find himself in. Instead ofsolving the difficulty we had only increased it. I wondered what Haylewould say when he heard the news, and what his next step would be. Thathe would endeavour to bolt again, I felt quite certain. It was a pointin my favour, however, that he would not know until the evening whatKitwater's decision was, so I felt I had still some time to arrange myplan of action. Of one thing I was quite determined, and that was thathe should be watched day and night from that minute, but not by Mr. Dickson. That worthy I bade return to England, and his rage ondiscovering that Mademoiselle Beaumarais's maid had tricked him, wouldhave been amusing to witness, had the principal event in which I wasmost concerned not been so grave. The expressions he used about her werecertainly far from being complimentary. 

Feeling that I must have other assistance, I set off for my friendLeglosse's residence. I had the good fortune to meet him by the_concierge's_ lodge, and we ascended the stairs to his rooms together. 

"I have come to ask you to do me a favour, " I said, when we were seatedin his sitting-room. 

"A thousand favours if you wish, _cher ami_, " the old fellow replied. "Tell me how I can have the pleasure of serving you. "

"I want you to lend me one of your men for a few days, " I said. "I haveto send my own man back to England, and I am afraid the gentleman wewere discussing last night may give me the slip in the meantime if I'mnot careful. "

The better to enable him to appreciate the position, I furnished himwith a brief summary of the case upon which I was engaged. 

"And so you are to dine with your prisoner to-night?" he remarked, withone of his quiet chuckles. "That is droll--very droll. It is very goodfor you that it is at such a place, or I should have my doubts as to therascal's intentions. But you are well able to take care of yourself, myfriend; that I know. "

"And the man?"

"You shall have him. You shall have half-a-dozen if you like. I am onlytoo pleased to be able to help in such a good work. You shall havePierre Lepallard, my right-hand. I cannot give you a better. Nothingescapes Pierre, and he is discreet, oh, yes, my friend, he is discreet. He will not obtrude himself, but he will know all that your friend does, to whom he speaks, what he said to him, and sometimes even what heintends doing before he does it. "

"In that case he is just the man for me, " I replied. "I am exceedinglyobliged to you for your considerate courtesy. Some day I may be able torepay it. "

Within half-an-hour the estimable Lepallard had been made acquaintedwith his duties, and within an hour a ragged tatterdemalion of a man wasselling matches on the opposite side of the road to that on whichHayle's apartments were situated. 

I reached the restaurant at which we were to dine that evening punctualto the moment, only to find that Hayle had not yet arrived. For a minuteI was tempted to wonder whether he had given me the slip again, butwhile the thought was passing through my mind a cab drove up, and thegentleman himself alighted. 

"I must beg your pardon for keeping you waiting, " he saidapologetically. "As your host I should have been here first. That wouldhave been the case had I not been detained at the last moment by an oldfriend. Pray forgive me!"

I consented to do so, and we entered the restaurant together. 

I discovered that he had already engaged a table, arranged the _menu_, and bespoken the wines. We accordingly sat down, and the strangest mealof which I had ever partaken commenced. Less than a week before, the mansitting in front of me had endeavoured to bring about my destruction;now he was my host, and to all outward appearances my friend as well. Ifound him a most agreeable companion, a witty conversationalist, and aborn _raconteur_. He seemed to have visited every part of the knownglobe; had been a sailor, a revolutionist in South America, ablackbirder in the Pacific, had seen something of what he called the"Pig-tail trade" to Borneo, some very queer life in India, that is tosay, in the comparatively unknown native states and had come within anace of having been shot by the French during the war in Madagascar. 

"In point of fact, " he said, "I may say that I have travelled from Danto Beersheba, and, until I struck this present vein of good fortune, hadfound all barren. Some day, if I can summon up sufficient courage, Ishall fit out an expedition and return to the place whence the stonescame, and get some more, but not just at present. Events have been alittle too exciting there of late to let us consider it a healthycountry. By the way, have you heard from our friend, Kitwater, yet?"

"I have, " I answered, "and his reply is by no means satisfactory. "

"I understand you to mean that he will not entertain my offer?"

I nodded my head. 

"He must have 'all or nothing, ' he declares. That is the wording of thetelegram I received. "

"Well, he knows his own affairs best. The difference is a large one, andwill materially affect his income. Will you take Crême de Minthe--Kümmelor Cognac?"

"Cognac, thank you, " I replied, and that was the end of the matter. 

During the remainder of the evening not another word was said upon thesubject. We chatted upon a variety of topics, but neither the matter ofthe precious stones nor even Kitwater's name was once mentioned. I couldnot help fancying, however, that the man was considerably disappointedat the non-acceptance of his preposterous offer. He had made a move onthe board, and had lost it. I knew him well enough, however, by thistime to feel sure that he by no means despaired yet of winning the game. Men of Gideon Hayle's stamp are hard to beat. 

"Now, " he said, when we had smoked our cigarettes, and after he hadconsulted his watch, "The night is still young. What do you say if wepay a visit to a theatre--the Hippodrome, for instance. We might wileaway an hour there very pleasantly if you feel so disposed. "

I willingly consented, and we accordingly left the restaurant. Once wewere in the street Hayle called a cab, gave the man his instructions, and we entered it. Chatting pleasantly, and still smoking, we passedalong the brilliantly illuminated Boulevards. I bestowed little, if any, attention on the direction in which we were proceeding. Indeed, it wouldhave been difficult to have done so for never during the evening hadHayle been so agreeable. A more charming companion no man could havedesired. It was only on chancing to look out of the window that that Idiscovered that we were no longer in the gaily-lighted thoroughfares, but were entering another and dingier part of the town. 

"What is the matter with the driver?" I asked. "Doesn't he know what heis about? This is not the way to the Hippodrome! He must havemisunderstood what you said to him. Shall I hail him and point outhis mistake?"

"No, I don't think it is necessary for you to do that, " he replied. "Doubtless he will be on the right track in a few minutes. He probablythinks if he gives us a longer ride, he will be able to charge aproportionately larger fare at the end. The Parisian cabby is very likehis London brother. "

He then proceeded to describe to me an exceedingly funny adventure thathad fallen him once in Chicago. The recital lasted some minutes, and allthe time we were still pursuing our way in a direction exactly oppositeto that which I knew we should be following. At last I could stand itno longer. 

"The man's obviously an idiot, " I said, "and I am going to tell him so. "

"I shouldn't do that, Mr. Fairfax, " said Hayle in a different voice tothat in which he had previously addressed me. "I had my own reasons fornot telling you before, but the matter has already been arranged. Theman is only carrying out his instructions. "

"What do you mean by already arranged?" I asked, not without some alarm. 

"I mean that you are my prisoner, Mr. Fairfax, " he said. "You see, youare rather a difficult person to deal with, if I must pay you such acompliment, and one has to adopt heroic measures in order to copewith you. "

"Then you've been humbugging me all this time, " I cried; "but you've letthe cat out of the bag a little too soon. I think I'll bid yougood-bye. "

I was about to rise from my seat and open the door, but he stopped me. In his hand he held a revolver, the muzzle of which was in unpleasantproximity to my head. 

[Illustration: "IN HIS HAND HE HELD A REVOLVER. "]

"I must ask you to be good enough to sit down, " he said. "You had betterdo so, for you cannot help yourself. If you attempt to make a fuss Ipledge you my word I shall shoot you, let the consequences to myself bewhat they may. You know me, and you can see that I am desperate. Myoffer to those men was only a bluff. I wanted to quiet any suspicionsyou might have in order that I might get you into my hands. As you cansee for yourself, I could not have succeeded better than I have done. Igive you my word that you shall not be hurt, provided that you do notattempt to escape or to call for help. If you do, then you know exactlywhat you may expect, and you will have only yourself to blame. Be asensible man, and give in to the inevitable. "

He held too many cards for me. I could see at a glance that I wasout-manoeuvred, and that there was nothing to be gained by a struggle. Idon't think I can be accused of cowardice; my reputation is too wellknown for that. But I do decidedly object to being shot by a desperateman, when there is not the least necessity for it. 

"Very well, " I said, lying back in my seat, "you have played your gamewith your usual cleverness, and I suppose I deserve what I have got forhaving been such a consummate idiot as to give you the opportunity youwanted. Now, what are you going to do, and where are you going totake me?"

"You will know everything in a few minutes, " he answered. "In themeantime I am glad to see that you take things so sensibly. In afterdays you will laugh over this little incident. "

"Whatever I may think in the future, " I replied, "just at present it isconfoundedly unpleasant. "

Ten minutes later the cab came to a standstill, there was the sound ofopening gates, and a moment later we drove into a stone-paved courtyard. 

CHAPTER X

If you could have travelled the world at that moment, from north tosouth, and from east to west, I believe you would have found itdifficult to discover a man who felt as foolish as I did when I enteredthe gloomy dwelling-place as Hayle's prisoner. To say that I wasmortified by the advantage he had obtained over me would not express myfeelings in the least. To think that I, George Fairfax, who had thereputation of being so difficult a man to trick, should have allowedmyself to fall into such a palpable trap, seemed sufficiently incredibleas to be almost a matter for laughter rather than rage. There was worse, however, behind. Miss Kitwater had been so trustful of my capability forbringing the matter to a successful conclusion, that I dared not imaginewhat she would think of me now. Whichever way I looked at it, it wasobvious that Hayle must score. On the one side, he kept me locked upwhile he not only made his escape from Paris, but by so doing cut offevery chance of my pursuing him afterwards; on the other, he mightconsole himself with the almost certain knowledge that I should bediscredited by those who had put their trust in me. How could it verywell be otherwise? I had committed the criminal folly of acceptinghospitality from the enemy, and from that moment I should not be seen. The natural supposition would be that I had been bought, and that I wasnot only taking no further interest in the case, but that I was keepingout of the way of those who did. To add to my misery, I could easilyimagine the laugh that would go up on the other side of the Channel whenthe trick that had been played upon me became known. But having so muchelse to think of, that fact, you may be sure, did not trouble me verymuch. There were two things, however, about which I was particularlyanxious; one was to set myself right with Miss Kitwater, and the otherwas to get even, at any cost, with Hayle. The first seemed the moredifficult. 

It must not be supposed that when I had alighted from the carriage I hadgiven up all hope of escape. On the contrary, had it not been for thepresence of three burly fellows, who immediately took up their placesbeside me, I fancy I should have made a dash for liberty. Under thecircumstances, however, to have attempted such a thing would have beenthe height of folly. Five to one, that is to say, if I include thecoachman in the number, with the gates closed behind me, were too longodds, and however hard I might have fought, I could not possibly havebeen successful. 

"Perhaps you will be kind enough to step into the house, " said Hayle. "The air is cold out here, and I am afraid lest you might takea chill. "

Before complying with his order I looked round me once more to see ifthere was any chance of escape. But so far as I could see there was notone. I accordingly followed one of my captors into the building, theremainder bringing up the rear. 

From what I could see of the house with the help of the light from asolitary candle hanging in a sconce upon the wall, it had once been ahandsome building. Now, however, it had fallen sadly to decay. Theceiling of the hall had at one time been richly painted, but now onlyblurred traces of the design remained. Crossing the hall, my guideopened a door at the further end. In obedience to a request from Hayle, I entered this room, to find myself standing in a fine apartment, so faras size went, but sadly lacking in comfort where its furniture wasconcerned. There was a bed, a table, three rough chairs, and an entirelyinadequate square of carpet upon the floor. I have already said that itwas a large room, and when I add that it was lighted only by twocandles, which stood upon the table in the centre, some idea will beafforded of its general dreariness. 

"Now look here, Mr. Hayle, " I said, "the time has come for us to have aserious talk together. You know as well as I do that in kidnapping meyou are laying yourself open to very serious consequences. If you thinkthat by so doing you are going to prevent me from eventually running youto earth, you are very much mistaken. You have obtained a temporaryadvantage over me, I will admit; but that advantage will not last. Donot flatter yourself that it will. "

"I am not so sure upon that point, " said Hayle, lighting a cigarette ashe spoke. "If I did not think so I should not have gone to all thistrouble and expense. But why make such a fuss about it? You must surelyunderstand, Mr. Fairfax, that your profession necessarily entails risks. This is one of them. You have been paid to become my enemy. I had nopersonal quarrel with you. You can scarcely blame me, therefore, if Iretaliate when I have an opportunity. I don't know what you may think ofit, but the mere fact of you dining with me to-night is very likely togo hard with you, so far as your clients are concerned. Would it be agood advertisement for the famous George Fairfax to have it known that, while he was taking his clients' money he was dining pleasantly in Pariswith the man they were paying him to find? I laid my trap for you, but Imust confess that I had not very much faith in its success. Yourexperience should have made you more wary. A student of human character, such as you are, should know that the leopard cannot change his spots, or the tiger his----"

"If you continue in this strain much longer, " I said, "I'll endeavour tostop your tongue, whatever it may cost me. Now, either let me out, orget out of the room yourself. I want to see no more of you while I amin this house. "

He blew a cloud of smoke, and then said nonchalantly--

"You had better occupy yourself thanking your stars that you are let offso easily. At one time I was tempted to have you put out of the wayaltogether. I am not quite certain it wouldn't be safer, even now. Itcould be done so easily, and no one would be any the wiser. I know twomen now in Paris who would gladly run the risk for the sake of theill-will they bear you. I must think it over. "

"Then think it over on the other side of that door, " I said angrily. "Play the same traitorous trick on me as you did on Kitwater and Codd ifyou like, but you shall not stay in the same room with me now. "

My reference to Kitwater and Codd must have touched him on a raw spot, for he winced, and then tried to bluff it off. 

"I rather fancy Messrs. Kitwater and Codd will just have such kindlythings to say concerning you in the future as they do about me now, " hesaid, as he moved towards the door. "And now I will wish you good-bye. As I leave Paris almost immediately, I don't suppose I shall have thepleasure of seeing you again. For your own sake I should advise you tobe quiet. I might tell you once and for all that you can't get out. Thedoor is a stout one, and the windows are exceptionally well barred. Themen to whom I have assigned the duty of looking after you are in theirway honest, though a little rough. Moreover, they are aware that theirown safety depends to a very great extent upon your not getting out. Believe me, if you do not know already, that there is nothing like fearfor making a good watch-dog. Farewell, friend Fairfax! You have beeninstrumental in sending a good many men into durance vile; you can tellme later how you like being there yourself. "

With that he went out, shutting the door behind him. I heard the keyturn in the lock, and a bolt shot at top and bottom. I thereupon went tothe window and examined it, only to discover that it was made secure onthe outside by large iron bars. So far as I could see, there was noother way of escape from the room. 

Though I laid down on the bed I did not sleep; my thoughts would notpermit of that. The face of the woman who had trusted me so profoundlywas before me continually, gazing at me with sweet reproachful eyes. Oh!what a fool I had been to accept that rascal's invitation! The more Ithought of it, the angrier I became with myself. Now, goodness only knewhow long I should be confined in this wretched place, and what wouldhappen during my absence from the world!

At last the dawn broke, and with it, a weird sickly light penetratedthe room. I sprang from my bed and approached the window, only to findthat it overlooked a small courtyard, the latter being stoneflagged andsurrounded by high walls. I could see that, even if I were able tosqueeze my way out between the bars, I should be powerless to scale thewalls. At a rough guess these were at least twelve feet high, andwithout a foothold of any sort or description. This being so I wascompletely at the mercy of the men in the house. Indeed, a rat caught ina trap, was never more firmly laid by the heels than I. At abouthalf-past seven o'clock a small trap-door, which I had not noticed nearthe ground and the main door, was opened, and a grimy hand made its wayin and placed upon the floor a cup of coffee and a roll. Then it wasclosed once more and made secure. I drank the coffee and munched theroll, and, if the truth must be confessed, poor as they were felt thebetter for both. 

At mid-day a bowl of miserable soup was handed in; darkness, however, had fallen some considerable time before I could detect any sound in thehall outside that might be taken to mean the coming of my evening meal. At last there was a clatter of feet, the bolts shot back, the key turnedin the lock, and the door opened. A man carrying a lantern entered, followed by two others, and as the light fell upon his face, I uttered acry of astonishment, for he was none other than my old friend Leglosse, while behind him was the infallible Lepallard. 

"Well, thank goodness we have found you at last, " cried Leglosse. "Wehave had such a hunt for you as man never dreamed of. I called at yourapartments late last night, hoping to see you, on important business, but you had not returned from a dinner to which you had been invited. Icalled again this morning and was informed by the _concierge_ that theyhad, up to that moment, seen nothing of you. When the good Lepallardinformed me that you had left the restaurant in a cab with MonsieurHayle, and that the latter had returned to his apartments this morningin a great hurry, only to leave them a short time after with hisluggage, for the railway station, I began to grow uneasy. You have noidea what a day I have had looking for you, but it has been well spent, since we have the pleasure of seeing you again. "

"I shall be grateful to you all my life for the service you haverendered me, " I replied. "But how did you manage to gain admittance tothis house?"

"It was quite easy; the birds had flown, " he answered. "Has thesuspicion not struck you that they were going to clear out and leave youhere to starve?"

"The brutes, " I answered. "But I'll be even with their leader yet. Andnow let us get away from here as quickly as possible. Have you any ideawhere our man has gone?"

"To Naples, " Lepallard replied. "I disguised myself as a pompous oldbourgeois, and I was behind him when he asked for his ticket anddistinctly heard what he said. "

"Then I shall go after him at once, " I replied. "He will in allprobability be off his guard. He will imagine me to be still locked upin this room, you see. "

"And I shall accompany you, if you will permit me, " said Leglosse. 

"But why?" I asked in surprise. "What have you got to do with him? Youhave no case against him, and you cannot spare the time to do it simplyout of kindness to me. "

"It's not kindness, it's business, my friend, " he replied. "You may notbelieve it, but I have a warrant for your man's arrest. "

"On what charge?"

"On a charge of being concerned in a big embezzlement in Cochin China, "he answered. "We laid the other two men by the heels at the time, butthe Englishman, who was the prime mover in it, we have never been ableto lay our hands upon. I felt certain that day when I met him inAmsterdam, that I had seen him somewhere before. Ever since then I havebeen puzzling my brains to discover where it was, and why it was sofamiliar to me. A photograph was eventually sent us of the Englishmanby the colonial authorities, but in that photograph he, the person Isuspect, wears a beard and a heavy moustache. It is the same man, however, and the description, even to the mark upon the face, exactlytallies with Hayle. Now I think I can help you to obtain a rather uniquerevenge upon the man, that is to say, if you want it. From what you haveso far told me, I understand that you have no evidence against himstrong enough to justify the issue of a warrant. Well, I have thatevidence, and between us you may be sure we'll bring him back to Paris. "

This was delightful hearing after all we had been through lately; at anyrate I greeted the prospect of Leglosse's co-operation with acclamation. It would be hard, if between us we could not find Hayle and bring him tothe justice he so richly deserved. 

"Now let us get out of this, " I said. "I must obtain something to eat ifI perish in the attempt. I am well nigh starving. A basin of soup, aroll and a cup of coffee, are all that I have had to-day. "

"You shall dine at once, " he answered, "and here. There is an excellentlittle restaurant further down the street, and one of my men shall gothere and tell them to bring you up a meal. After that you shall go homeand change your costume, and then we will arrange what shall be doneabout the travelling. "

This programme was carried out to the letter. We made a good meal, atleast I know that I did, and when it was eaten, a cab was procured, andin company with Leglosse I said good-bye to the house in which I hadspent so short a time, yet in which I had been so miserable. 

"I shall never know how to repay you for your kindness, " I said to mycompanion as we drove down the street. "Had it not been for you and yourmen I should now be starving in that wretched place. I'll certainlyforgive Hayle if he is ever successful enough to take me in again by oneof his rascally tricks. "

"You must not let him do that, " returned the Frenchman, shaking hishead. "Our reputations are at stake. "

When I reached my own apartments the _concierge_ was much relieved tosee me. She had been told that I was dead, perhaps murdered, andLeglosse's visit to find me had not helped to reassure her. A packet ofletters and telegrams was handed to me, which I carried up to my room, to read them while I was changing my attire. Never before had I been soglad to get out of a dress-suit. 

I had just finished my toilet and was in the act of commencing thepacking of the bag I intended taking with me, when there was a tap atthe door. I opened it, to find the _concierge_ there. 

"There is a lady in the parlor to see Monsieur, " she said. "She has amaid with her. "

"A lady to see me?" I asked incredulously. "Who on earth can she be?"

The _concierge_ shook her head. In my own mind I had arrived at theconclusion that it was Mademoiselle Beaumarais, and that Hayle had senther to discover, if possible, whether I had escaped from my confinementor not. On finding out that I had she would telegraph to him, and oncemore he would be placed on his guard. At first I felt almost inclinednot to see her, but on second thoughts I saw the folly of thisproceeding. I accordingly entered the room where the lady was awaitingme. The light was not very good, but it was sufficient for me to see twofigures standing by the window. 

"To what am I indebted for the honour of this visit, mademoiselles?" Ibegan. 

"Don't you know me, Mr. Fairfax?" the taller of them answered. "Youforget your friends very quickly. "

"Miss Kitwater?" I cried, "what does this mean?"

"It is a long story, " she answered, "but I feel sure that you will havetime to hear it now. I am in terrible trouble. "

"I am indeed sorry to hear that, " I answered, and then glanced at hermaid as if to inquire whether it was safe to speak before her. Sheinterpreted the look correctly and nodded her head. 

"Yes, Mr. Fairfax, " she said, "you can say what you please beforeNelly. "

"Then am I right in interpreting your trouble as being connected withyour uncle?" I asked. 

"Yes, that is it, " she answered. "You have guessed correctly. Do youknow that he and Mr. Codd have disappeared?"

"Disappeared?" I repeated. "Have you any idea where they havedisappeared to?"

"No, but I can hazard a very shrewd guess, " she replied. "I believethey have crossed to Paris in search of Mr. Hayle. Since last Sunday myuncle had been more depressed than ever, while the paroxysms of rage towhich he is so subject, have been even more frequent than ever. If thetruth must be told, I fear his troubles have turned his brain, for hetalks to himself in such a queer way, and asks every few minutes if Ihave received news from you, that I cannot help thinking his mind is notwhat it should be. You must understand that on Saturday last, thinkingit might possibly be required for the case, I drew a large sum of moneyfrom the bank; more than a hundred pounds, in fact. I securely locked itup in my writing-table, and thought no one knew anything about it. Yesterday afternoon my uncle and Mr. Codd went for a walk, and did notreturn, though I waited for them for several hours. While I was thuswaiting I opened the drawer in the writing-table to procure something Iwanted, and discovered that the money was missing. Only one constructioncould be placed upon it, Mr. Fairfax. They had wearied of their inactivelife, and had set off in search of Hayle. "

"They are aware of his address in Paris, are they not?"

"Yes, my uncle repeated it from morning until night, " she answered. "Inpoint of fact, he did little else. Oh! it terrifies me beyond measure tothink what may happen should they meet. "

"You need not fear that, " I replied. "Hayle has tired of Paris and hasbolted again. Very probably to a place where they cannot hope tofind him. "

I believe she said "God be thanked" under her breath, but I am not quitecertain upon that point. I did not tell her of the trick Hayle had solately played upon myself. If the telling were necessary it would beable to come later on. 

"May I ask what brought you to Paris, Miss Kitwater?" I inquired, aftera pause. 

"My great fear, " she answered. "I wired to you from Charing Cross to saythat I was coming. Did you not receive my message?"

I remember the fact that, not having time to open them all before I wascalled away, I had put some of the telegrams on one side. As ill luckwould have it, Miss Kitwater's must have been amongst these. I explainedthat I had been away from the house all day, and only thatmoment returned. 

"I felt, " she said, ignoring my excuses, "that I must come to you andtell you all that has transpired. Also that I might implore you to keepthe men apart at any cost. "

"We can easily find out whether they have arrived in Paris, and alsowhether they have been to Hayle's apartments, " I said. "That wouldcertainly be one of the places which they would try first. "

While I was speaking there was the sound of a step in the corridoroutside and next moment Leglosse entered the room. He was in the highestspirits, as he always was when he was about to undertake a new piece ofwork. Seeing that I had visitors he came to a sudden standstill. 

"A thousand pardons, " he said in French. "I had no idea that you wereengaged. I will wait outside. "

"Don't do anything of the kind, " I returned in the same language. "Comein and let me introduce you to Miss Kitwater, who has just arrivedfrom England. "

"Miss Kitwater?" he repeated, in some surprise. "Surely I understood youto say that your client, the gentleman who had lost his sight throughHayle's treachery, was Monsieur Kitwater?"

"That is quite right, and this lady is his niece, " I returned. "She hasbrought me extraordinary intelligence. Her uncle and his companion havesuddenly disappeared from the little village in Surrey, where they havebeen staying some time with her. It is her belief that they have come toParis in search of Hayle. There would have been trouble had they met, but fortunately for them, and for Hayle, he has given them the slip oncemore. It would be possible for you to find out whether they arrived bythis morning's train, and also whether they have made inquiries atHayle's apartments, would it not?"

"Quite possible, " he answered. "It shall be done at once. I will let youknow in less than an hour what I have discovered. "

I thanked him, whereupon he bowed to Miss Kitwater, and thendisappeared. 

"Monsieur Leglosse is also in pursuit of Hayle, " I explained. "He holdsa warrant for his arrest on a charge of embezzlement in Cochin China. For that reason we are following him to Naples to-morrow morning. "

"To Naples. Has the wretched man gone there?"

"So we have been led to believe, " I answered. 

"Then do you think my uncle will find it out and follow him?" she asked, wringing her hands. "Oh! it is all too terrible. What shall I do?"

"Well, if I might be allowed to be like David Copperfield's Mr. Dick, Ishould be practical, and say '_dine_'! I suppose you have had nothing toeat since you left England?"

She gave a little wan smile. 

"We have not had very much, certainly, " she answered. "Poor Nelly, youmust be nearly starving. "

The maid, however, protested that she was not; but was not to be denied. Bidding them remain where they were, I went down-stairs and interviewedmy faithful friend, the _concierge_. With her I arranged that MissKitwater and her maid should be provided with rooms in the house forthat night, and having done so went on to the nearest restaurant. Insomething less than ten minutes all was settled, and in under twentythey were seated at their meal. At first the girl would not sit downwith her mistress, but with her usual thoughtfulness, Miss Kitwaterordered her to do so. 

"And now, Mr. Fairfax, " she said, when they had finished, "we mustdiscover a hotel where we can stay the night. At present we know of noplace in which to lay our heads. "

"You need not trouble about that, " I said, "I have already arrangedthat you shall have rooms in this house if you care to occupy them. Theold lady to whom it belongs is a particular friend of mine, and willcertainly do her best to make you comfortable. I presume that it wasyour bag I saw in the _concierge's_ office, when I was there just now?"

"We left it there, " she answered, and then gave me my reward byadding--"It is very kind of you, Mr. Fairfax to have taken so muchtrouble. I cannot thank you sufficiently. "

"You must not thank me at all, " I replied. "In helping you I am onlydoing my duty to my client. "

I had scarcely said the words before I regretted them. It was a foolishspeech and a churlish one as well. She pretended not to notice it, however, but bade her maid go down to the _concierge's_ office, and takethe bag to the room that had been allotted to her. The girl disappeared, and when she had gone Miss Kitwater turned to me. 

"Mr. Fairfax, " she said, "I have yet another favour to ask of you. Iassure you it concerns me vitally. I want to know if you will let me gowith you to Naples. In order that I might not be in your way, we mighttravel in different compartments; but go I must. I am so frightenedabout my uncle. If I follow him to Naples, it is just possible I mightbe able to dissuade him from pursuing Hayle. If he were to kill me forpreventing them, I would not let them meet. Believe me when I say thatI am terribly anxious about him. Besides----"

Here she paused for a moment as if she did not quite know how tocontinue what she had to say to me. 

"As I have said, you and Monsieur ---- I mean the French gentleman--couldtravel in your own way. All that I want to be assured of is, that I maybe in Naples and at hand should anything happen. "

"If you really wish it, I do not see why you should not go?" I repliedmeditatively. "But if you desire my candid opinion I must say that Ithink you would be far better off at home. Still if you desire to come, it's not for me to gainsay your wishes. We will arrange therefore that, unless you decide to the contrary in the meantime, you accompany us bythe 8. 50 train to-morrow morning. "

"I thank you, " she said. 

A few moments later Leglosse returned with the information that it wasas we suspected. Kitwater and Codd had arrived in Paris that morning, and had visited Hayle's lodgings only to find him gone. 

"What is more important still, " he continued, "they have managed tolearn that Hayle had gone to Naples, and they will probably leave by the2. 50 train to-morrow morning for that city: It is as well, perhaps, thatwe arranged to travel by the next. "

"Courage, courage, Miss Kitwater, " I said, seeing that she wastrembling. "Try not to be frightened. There is nothing to fear. " Thenturning to Leglosse, I added--"Miss Kitwater has decided to accompany usto Naples. As a matter of fact my position in the case has undergone achange since I last saw you. "

He looked from one to the other of us as if in astonishment. 

"What do you mean?" he asked. 

"Hitherto, " I replied, "I have been acting against Hayle, with theintention of securing him, in order that my clients might have a mostimportant meeting with him. For the future, however, my endeavours willbe used in the contrary direction. They must never meet!"

"Then the best way to bring about what you desire is to assist me, "returned Leglosse. "Let me once get my hand upon him in the name ofFrance, and they will never meet. "

"But we have to catch him before we do that, " I said. 

"Never-fear, we will do it, " he answered confidently, and that seemed tosettle it. 

Next morning at 8. 50, we left Paris for Naples. 

CHAPTER XI

It was in the early afternoon following our leaving Paris that wereached Naples. By this time, in spite of our endeavours to prevent it, Miss Kitwater was quite tired out. She certainly pretended not to be, but it was difficult, if not impossible, for her to conceal the fact. Immediately on arrival we conveyed her to the best hotel, of theproprietor of which, Leglosse had already made inquiries, in order tofind out whether or not Hayle had taken up his abode there. 

It was with relief that we discovered that no person answering at all tohis description was located there. That done we commenced our search forthe man we wanted. We decided to first try the offices of the varioussteamers plying across the Mediterranean to Port Said. Considerably toour amazement, however, we happened to be successful at the first cast. A man signing himself Henry Gifford had applied for a first-classpassage to Colombo, with the intention of changing at that port intoanother steamer for Hong Kong. 

"What was he like?" I inquired of the clerk; "and did anything strikeyou as peculiar about him or his appearance?"

"Well, there was one thing, " he said. "And at the time I must say Ithought it funny. When I asked him his name, he began 'Gideon, ' and thensuddenly corrected himself and said 'Henry Gifford. ' I rememberwondering whether he was using a false name or not. He booked hispassage at the last moment, and seemed in a great hurry to getaboard--being afraid he would miss the boat. "

I questioned him as to the man's general appearance, and when I hadlearned all he had to tell us, I was perfectly satisfied in my own mindthat Hayle was the man who had gone aboard. 

"He didn't lose much time, " said Leglosse. "Mark my words, he'll leavethe steamer at Port Said, and will either come back on his own tracks, or go up the Palestine Coast to Jaffa, and thence back to Europe. Whatdo you think is the best thing to be done?"

"See the agent of the company here and get him to telegraph to PortSaid, " I answered. "Both to their agent there and the captain of thesteamer. If the captain telegraphs back that Gifford is our man, we mustwire to the police authorizing them to detain him pending our arrival. There is a bit of risk attached to it, but if we want to catch him wemust not think of that. "

We accordingly interviewed the agent and placed the case before him. Wetold him who we were, and Leglosse explained to him that he held awarrant for the arrest of one Gideon Hayle, an individual whom he hadevery reason to believe was endeavouring to escape under the assumedname of Henry Gifford. The clerk was next called in, and gave hisevidence, and these matters having been settled, the telegrams weredespatched to both the captain and the agent. 

Some four days we knew must certainly elapse before we could receive areply, and that time was devoted to searching the city for Kitwater andCodd. That they had not booked passages in the same boat in which Haylehad sailed, we soon settled to our satisfaction. In that case we knewthat they must be domiciled in Naples somewhere. In the intervalsbetween our search Leglosse and I used our best endeavours to make MissKitwater enjoy her stay. We took her to Pompeii, climbed Vesuviustogether, visited Capri, Ischia, the Great Museum, the King's Palace, and dined together every evening. I had not been acquainted with thegirl much more than a fortnight, and yet I felt as if I had known herall my life, and the greater my experience of her was, the better Iliked her. As for Leglosse, he outdid himself in his devotion. He madethe most extraordinary toilets in her honour, and on one occasion wenteven so far as to inform me that, if all Englishwomen were like thisparticular specimen, he would say good-bye to his beloved Paris, andcross the Channel never to return again. 

At last the eventful day arrived, and from nine till twelve we calledrepeatedly at the office for the telegram that was to mean so much tous. It was not, however, until the afternoon was well advanced that amessage was received. I could have taken my stick to the agent for theslowness with which he opened the envelope. The clerk was called in, thecode translated, and the message presently transcribed. 

"This, gentlemen, " he said at last, pointing to the telegram, "is fromour agent in Port Said, and is as follows--

"Gifford, small man, grey hair, and wears spectacles. No scar on face, cannot find first-class passenger with one. Fear you have beendeceived. "

"Confound the fellow, " I cried, "he's done us again. What's worse, we'vewasted four precious days waiting for this message. What shall wedo now?"

"Look for him elsewhere, " said Leglosse. "If he didn't go by that boat, he might have left by another. "

We thanked the agent for his courtesy, and were about to leave theoffice when another telegram was handed in. We waited to see whether itwas from the captain, and presently found that we were not destined tobe disappointed. Once more the agent consulted his code, transcribed themessage, and read it to us. 

"Have interviewed Gifford, threatened him with the police for usingpassage booked by another person. He confesses having been induced bystranger such as you describe to accept passage Colombo. How shallI act?"

"We've been done again, " I cried, bringing my fist down with a thumpupon the table. "It's only another proof of Hayle's cleverness. Theingenuous rascal books his passage here, knowing very well that it willbe one of the first places at which we shall make inquiries, lets fall a'Gideon', and then transfers his ticket to somebody else. I suppose hedidn't bargain for my getting out of that house in time to follow him, and to telegraph to Port Said. Now that we are certain that he did notgo that way, we must try and find out in what direction he did proceed. "

"And also what has become of the blind man and his companion, " saidLeglosse. "They may be hot upon his trail, and if we can only discoverthem, and keep an eye on them, we may find out all we want to know. Butit is likely to prove a difficult task. "

We tried the various shipping offices, without success. We called atevery hotel, important or otherwise, questioned the City Police, whoassured us they had seen nothing of the men we described and finallywere compelled to own ourselves thoroughly well beaten. Leglosse's facewas the picture of despair, and I fear mine was not much better. Weinserted advertisements in the papers, but with no more luck thanbefore. From the moment the trio had entered Naples, they seemed to havevanished entirely. Then one evening, a ragged little urchin called atthe hotel and asked to see us. In reply to our questions, he informed usthat he had seen two Englishmen only the day before, such as the policesaid we were inquiring for; one of them was blind, the other dumb. Indeed he was sure of this, for the reason that he had carried their bagfor them down to the harbour whence the Palermo boat sailed. We prickedup our ears on hearing this. If his story was correct, and Kitwater andCodd had visited Sicily, then without a doubt Hayle must have gone theretoo. But we had no desire to allow ourselves to be taken in again. Itmight be another of Hayle's tricks, and for this reason we questionedthe boy more closely; he adhered, however, to his story without avariation. His description of the men was perfect in every respect, andhe assured us most emphatically that he knew nothing of any individualwith such a scar upon his face as Hayle possessed. At last we becameconvinced that his story was genuine, and we rewarded the boyaccordingly. After he had disappeared we informed Miss Kitwater of thediscovery we had made. 

"You will follow them to Palermo?"

"Assuredly, mademoiselle, " Leglosse replied. "I have my duty toperform. "

"Then I must go with you, " she answered. "If he is on the island thechase must be drawing to a close, and I must be present to protect him, if possible, against himself. "

Accordingly next morning, for the steamer for that day had long sincesailed, we set out for the kingdom of Sicily, that gem among Islands, asGoethe terms it. It was the first time Miss Kitwater had seen thesouthern coast, and for this reason I made her promise that she wouldrise early next morning in order that she might witness our approach tothe far-famed island. This she did, and side by side we watched thevessel draw closer to the land. Away to the west lay the island ofUstica, its outline sharply defined in the clear morning air. 

"How beautiful it all is!" she said, "and to think that we are sailingsuch lovely seas upon such an errand. "

"You must try not to think about it, " I said. "'Sufficient unto the dayis the evil thereof. ' Let us hope that it will all come right in theend. If only Leglosse can get hold of Hayle first, your uncle cannotpossibly do him any harm, however much disposed he may be that way. Between us we ought to be able to manage that. "

Shortly after breakfast we obtained our first glimpse of Sicily. It wasa scene never to be forgotten. The blue seas, the towering mountainsrising apparently out of it, made up a picture that was lovely beyondcompare. Presently we steamed into the harbour, and made our way to theDogana, where our luggage was examined. Here we commenced our inquiriesconcerning Kitwater and Codd, and had the satisfaction of learning, onundeniable authority, that the story the boy had told us was correct. Such terrible infirmities as theirs could scarcely fail to attractnotice, and more than one of the officials remembered seeing andcommiserating them. On leaving the Dogana, they had travelled to thecity by cab, so we were informed. 

"The man who drove them is outside now, " said one of them. "Perhaps theseñor would care to question him. "

I replied that I should like very much to do so, and we accordingly wentout into the street together. It appeared that the cabman remembered hisfares perfectly, the more so by reason of the fact that the blind manhad sworn at him for not using greater speed in reaching the city. Hehad driven them to some furnished lodgings kept by his cousin, he said, and was proceeding to recommend them to us, when I cut him short byinforming him that we had already decided upon a hotel. We thereuponentered the vehicle, he mounted the box, and we set off. From the momentthat we had set foot ashore Miss Kitwater had been growing more and morenervous. When it was taken into consideration that before nightfall somevery unpleasant things might happen, I do not think this fact is to bewondered at. I pitied her from the bottom of my heart, and was preparedto do all that lay in my power to help her. It was a strange change forher, from the quiet little village of Bishopstowe, to the pursuit of acriminal across Europe to an island in the Mediterranean. 

"And when it is over?" was the question I asked myself on numerousoccasions. "What is going to happen then? I suppose I shall bid hergood-bye, she will thank me for the trouble I have taken, and then ouracquaintance will be at an end. "

After that it had become my habit to heave a prodigious sigh, and towonder whether she could ever be induced to----

But somehow I never got much further with my speculations. Was it likelyshe would ever think twice of me? She was invariably kind andthoughtful; she deferred to me on everything, and seemed to think myopinions and actions must of necessity be right. Apart from that I feltcertain I had made no other impression upon her. 

"Now, _mon ami_, " said Leglosse, when we had installed ourselves at ourhotel, "I think it would be better that you should efface yourself for atime. None of the men we are after know me, but Hayle and Codd wouldboth recognize you at once. Let me go into the town to make a fewinquiries, and if they are satisfactory we shall know how to act. Doyour best to amuse mademoiselle, and I will hasten back to you as soonas I have anything to tell. "

Upon my consenting to this arrangement he set off, leaving me free todevote myself to the amusement of Miss Kitwater. As soon as she joinedme we made our way into the garden of the hotel, and seating ourselveson a comfortable bench, spent the remainder of the morning basking inthe sunshine, and watching the exquisite panorama that was spread outbefore us. 

"I wonder what they are doing at Bishopstowe now?" I said, and a momentlater wished I had held my tongue. 

"Poor little Bishopstowe, " my companion answered. "How thankful I shallbe to get safely back to it! I don't think I shall ever want totravel again. "

"Ah! you cannot tell, " I replied. "You are seeing the world just nowunder very unfavourable auspices. Some day perhaps you will follow thesame route under conditions as happy as these are the reverse. "

I think she must have guessed to what I referred, for her face flushed alittle, and she hastily diverted the conversation into another channel, by drawing my attention to a picturesque sailing-boat which at thatmoment was entering the harbour. I tried to entice her back to thesubject later, but she would plainly have none of it. Only once did sherefer to it, and that was when we were making our way back to the hotelto lunch. I stated my fear lest she should find all this running aboutfrom place to place tiring for her. 

"You need not be afraid of that, " she answered. "I am very strong, andam not easily tired. Besides, you have been so good and kind, Mr. Fairfax, and have done so much to ensure my comfort, that, if only outof gratitude to you, I could not very well be fatigued. I think you knowhow grateful I am to you, do you not?"

As she said this she looked up at me with her beautiful trusting eyes, and so overwhelmed me that it was as much as I could do to keep back thewords that rose to the tip of my tongue. I answered her to the effectthat I had only done my best to promote her comfort, and was about tosay something further, when Leglosse made his appearance before us. There was a look of great satisfaction upon his face. 

"I think I know now all that there is to know, " he said. "Ifmademoiselle will excuse me, I will tell it. Monsieur Hayle arrived heresome five days ago, and has taken possession of a charming villa someten miles from the city. It is situated on the coast and the agentdeclares it to be unique. How long he intends to occupy it, he, theagent, could not say, but he has paid a high rent for it in advance, which appears to have given unlimited satisfaction. The other two menare still prowling about the city in search of him, but so far they havenot been successful in their endeavours. "

"Could I not go to my uncle?" Miss Kitwater inquired. "It might bepossible for me to persuade him to leave the island without seeing thiswretched man. "

"I fear it would be useless, " I answered. "And you would only causeyourself unnecessary pain. No! what we must do is to communicate withthe Palermo police: Leglosse can show them his warrant, and then we mustendeavour to get Hayle under lock and key, and then out of the island, without waste of time. That is the best course, believe me. "

"If all goes well, I shall make the arrest to-night, " said Leglosse, andthen added, "I must get back to Paris as soon as possible. "

That afternoon he went out once more, this time to interview the policeauthorities. At five o'clock he returned in a state of great excitement. 

"The other two have discovered Hayle's whereabouts, " he said, when wewere alone together. "And they have set off in pursuit. They have beengone more than an hour, and, unless we start at once, we shall be toolate to take him before they run him to earth. "

"Good Heavens! Are you quite sure of this?"

"As sure as I can be of anything, " he answered. "I have been to theirhouse. "

"Do not say anything about this to Miss Kitwater, " I said hurriedly. "Wemust make the best excuse we can to account for our absence. "

I tried to do this, but she saw through my endeavour. 

"You are going to arrest him, I can see, " she said. "Poor unhappy man!But there, I would rather that should happen than he and my uncle shouldmeet. Go, Mr. Fairfax, and I pray God you may be successful. "

Leglosse had already engaged a cab, and when I joined him I discoveredthat he had also brought a Sicilian police official with him. Thisindividual gave the driver his instructions, and away we went. As we hadinformed the cabman, previous to setting out, that there was no time tobe lost, we covered the distance in fine style, and just as the sun wassinking behind the mountains entered the little village on the outskirtsof which the villa was situated. It was a delightful spot, a merecluster of human habitations, clinging to the mountain-side. The Angeluswas sounding from the campanile of the white monastery, further up thehill-side as we drove along the main street. Leaving the village behindus we passed on until we came to the gates of the park in which thevilla was situated. We had already formed our plans, and it was arrangedthat the island official should send his name in to Hayle, Leglosse andI keeping in the background as much as possible. We descended from thecarriage and Leglosse rang the bell which we discovered on the wall;presently the door was opened, and a wizened-up little man made hisappearance before us. An animated conversation ensued, from which ittranspired that the new occupant of the villa was now in the pavilion atthe foot of the grounds. 

"In that case conduct us to him, " said the officer, "but remember this, we desire to approach without being seen. Lead on!"

The old man obeyed and led us by a winding path through the orangery forupwards of a quarter of a mile. At the end of that walk we saw ahead ofus a handsome white edifice, built of stucco, and of the summer-houseorder. It stood on a small plateau on the first slope of the cliff andcommanded an exquisite view of the bay, the blue waters of which laysome two hundred feet or so below it. 

"His Excellency is in there, " said the old man, in his Sicilian patois. 

"Very good, in that case you can leave us, " said the officer, "we canfind our way to him ourselves. "

The old man turned and left us, without another word, very well pleased, I fancy, to get out of the way of that functionary. Goodness only knowswhat memories of stolen vegetables and fruit had risen in his mind. 

"Before we go in, " I said, "would it not be as well to be prepared forany emergencies? Remember he is not a man who would stick at much. "

We accordingly arranged our plan of attack in case it should benecessary, and then approached the building. As we drew nearer the soundof voices reached our ears. At first I was not able to recognize them, but as we ascended the steps to the pavilion, I was able to grasp thereal facts of the case. 

"Good Heavens!" I muttered to myself, "that's Kitwater's voice. " Thenturning to Leglosse, I whispered, "We're too late, they're herebefore us. "

It certainly was Kitwater's voice I had heard, but so hoarse with furythat at any other time I should scarcely have recognized it. 

"Cover him, Codd, " he was shouting, "and if he dares to move shoot himdown like the dog he is. You robbed us of our treasure, did you? And yousneaked away at night into the cover of the jungle, and left us to dieor to be mutilated by those brutes of Chinese. But we've run you down atlast, and now when I get hold of you, by God, I'll tear your eyes andyour tongue out, and you shall be like the two men you robbed andbetrayed. Keep your barrel fixed on him, Codd, I tell you! Remember ifhe moves you are to fire. Oh! Gideon Hayle, I've prayed on my bendedknees for this moment, and now it's come and----"

At this moment we entered the room to find Hayle standing with his backto the window that opened into the balcony, which in its turn overlookedthe somewhat steep slope that led to the cliff and the sea. Codd was onthe left of the centre table, a revolver in his hand, and a look uponhis face that I had never seen before. On the other side of the tablewas Kitwater, with a long knife in his hand. He was leaning forward in acrouching position, as if he were preparing for a spring. On hearing oursteps, however, he turned his sightless face towards us. It was Hayle, however, who seemed the most surprised. He stared at me as if I were aman returned from the dead. 

"Put up that revolver, Codd, " I cried. "And you, Kitwater, drop thatknife. Hayle, my man, it's all up. The game is over, so you may aswell give in. "

Leglosse was about to advance upon him, warrant in one hand and manaclesin the other. 

"What does this mean?" cried Hayle. 

His voice located him, and before we could either of us stop him, Kitwater had sprung forward and clutched him in his arms. Of whatfollowed next I scarcely like to think, even now. In cannoning withHayle he had dropped his knife, and now the two stood while a man couldhave counted three, locked together in deadly embrace. Then ensued sucha struggle as I hope I shall never see again, while we others stoodlooking on as if we were bound hand and foot. The whole affair couldnot have lasted more than a few moments, and yet it seemed like aneternity. Kitwater, with the strength of a madman, had seized Hayleround the waist with one arm, while his right hand was clutching at theother's throat. I saw that the veins were standing out upon Hayle'sforehead like black cords. Do what he could, he could not shake off theman he had so cruelly wronged. They swayed to and fro, and in one oftheir lurches struck the window, which flew open and threw them into thebalcony outside. Codd and the Sicilian police official gave loud cries, but as for me I could not have uttered a sound had my life depended onit. Hayle must have realized his terrible position, for there was a lookof abject, hopeless terror upon his face. The blind man, of course, could see nothing of his danger. His one desire was to be revenged uponhis enemy. Closer and closer they came to the frail railing. Once theymissed it, and staggered a foot away from it. Then they came back to itagain, and lurched against it. The woodwork snapped, and the two menfell over the edge on to the sloping bank below. Still locked togetherthey rolled over and over, down the declivity towards the edge of thecliff. A great cry from Hayle reached our ears. A moment later they haddisappeared into the abyss, while we stood staring straight before us, too terrified to speak or move. 

[Illustration: "THE WOODWORK SNAPPED, AND THE TWO MEN FELL OVER THEEDGE. "]

Leglosse was the first to find his voice. 

"My God!" he said, "how terrible! how terrible!"

Then little Codd sank down, and, placing his head upon his hands on thetable, sobbed like a little child. 

"What is to be done?" I asked, in a horrified whisper. 

"Go down to the rocks and search for them, " said the Sicilian officer, "but I doubt if we shall be able to find them; the sea is very deep offthis point. "

We went! Kitwater's body we discovered, terribly mutilated upon therocks. Hayle's remains were never found. Whether he fell into the deepwater and was washed out to sea, or whether his body was jammed betweenthe rocks under the water, no one would ever be able to say. It wasgone, and with it all that were left of the stones that had occasionedtheir misery. 

Codd did not accompany us in the search, and when we returned to thevilla above he was not to be found. Never since the moment when we lefthim sobbing at the table have I set eyes on him, and now, I suppose, inall human probability I never shall. 

Later on we returned to Palermo to break the news to Miss Kitwater. Shocked though she was, she received the tidings with greater calmnessthan I had expected she would do. Perhaps, after all, she felt that itwas better that it should have ended so. 

 * * * * *

Three years have elapsed since we paid that terrible visit to Palermo. It may surprise you, or it may not, when I say that I am now a marriedman, Margaret Kitwater having consented to become my wife two years agonext month. The only stipulation she made when she gave her decision wasthat upon my marriage I should retire from the profession in which I hadso long been engaged. As I had done sufficiently well at it to warrantsuch a step, I consented to do so, and now I lead the life of a countrygentleman. It may interest some people to know that a certain day-dream, once thought so improbable, has come true, inasmuch as a considerableportion of my time is spent in the little conservatory which, as I havesaid elsewhere, leads out of the drawing-room. I usually wear a softfelt hat upon my head, and as often as not I have a pipe in my mouth. Every now and then Margaret, my wife, looks in upon me, and occasionallyshe can be persuaded to bring a young Fairfax with her, who, some peoplesay, resembles his father. For my own part I prefer that he should belike his mother--whom, very naturally, I consider the best and sweetestwoman in the world. 

~THE END~