Berry, "when you want

ings," said

d. D'you find t

ster

ways remember what I've changed them for, but

remember what that is, and there

aistcoat next to your skin. Then, whenever you want to look a

ber. Just go and do it by deed-poll. And then advertise it in The Times. You'

ld reply to

ans that you can't remember something

prepared a cigar for ignition

d, in, as it were, the upper reaches of my memory, there is a faint ripple of sugg

e had that morning received from the United States. Reflectively Berry struck

d. I had driven the car both ways and was healthily tired, but the long ride had rendered

nd. Out of the pounding traffic the pungent reek of oil and fiery metal rose up oppressive. Paint three months old was seamed and freckled. Look where you would, the silver sheen of Spring was dull and tarnished, the very stones were shabby, and in the summer sunshine even proud buildings of the

ne suddenly, "is s

said Jill,

or Southamp

ut I told her to co

t; only, when you're making for Hampshire,

that she is in the presence of a holy sage, and, as it were, treading upon hallowed ground. Woman," he added, looking sorrowfu

e. If I'd been with you at Oxford, when he got busy, I should just have died. All the same, you mus

k you very much. 'A scream,' I think you said. Yes

id I. "Excepti

n't deny that. His offerings at the shrine of Gluttony are

. "It's natural. And you'd be ti

and diverting," said I. "I d

you discourage him so. Remember that rotten fish in Brook Street the other day

tain, however, that nobody can justly desc

door at once interrupted

rtance, with tail up, eyes sparkling, and gripped in his large

of feminine ap

outh," said I, "y

en, making much of the dog, returned a foolscap envelope to his jaws and instructed him to bear it to Berry. Nobby received it greedily, but it was only when he had simultaneously spun into the air, grow

his action as the first move in a game of great promise, darted out of hi

heavily, miss the terrier by what was a matter of inches, and by the time we had helped one another upstairs, the med

breath in t

bed. "Quick! It may be unsporting, but I don't care. A-a-ah!" His voice rose to a menacing roar, a

a further burst of mi

raightforward efforts of a man were fruitless. As I

l in a stage whis

ion. Then he dropped the mangled remains o

cola

s scrambling towards

er the débris and

in front of Jill, b

ny for you. And if I had, I mightn't give you the

l fetch him," said I. "I think

taught him to collect stamps. And / or crests. And do you mean to say you've got no chocolates for him?

," I said shakily. "It

lope some three-fifths of a dilapidated dividend warrant, which looked as

said unsteadily. "The com

ium over again. The little angel must have been the mascot of a double-breasted Jaeger battalion in full blast." With a

r the other," said I

other-in-law rega

ow, if you'll assist me downstairs and apply the usual restoratives, I'll forgive

the following let

i

eveal, the remains of a dividend warrant in my

date, signature and stamp, I am forced to the reluctant conclusion that your bank

us treatment it received at the teeth and claws of a dog or hound which, I regret to sa

that I made such desperate efforts to recover it intact as resulted in my sustaining a fall of considerable violence upon one of the least resilient floors I have ever encountered. If

fait

t

and says I've left out something. I think the fat-

fool means I haven't asked you to send

t reason I was

ng the phenomenon. Then a low growl from the foot of t

hand and felt for t

e my head a deeply-shaded lamp flung a

on an elbow and

trong legs tucked out of sight, but his hea

n one side and

elated car faintly d

e minute to one. As I raised my eyes, an i

e terrier to go to sleep

o, he grow

the "push," I hesitate

ressing-gown, while Nobby, his black nose clapped to the sill

el his heart thumping, but he seemed to appreciate the

the light and o

he landing, and I stepped dir

g, but, as I stood peering, the sound of a stealthy movement, followed by the low grumb

d listening and thi

nd Discretion suggested that I should seek assistance before descending. Jonah was out of To

l meeting metal and a s

door of my sister's room and turned t

came in a st

opped on a white arm, looking at me with wide eyes and parted lips. Her beautiful dark hair

is it,

finger up

ody downstairs

on to his left side and

"is the meaning o

whispered. "The hou

rgl

ed, yo

mean is 'burglariously rifled.' And

e stamped w

took up th

e," she said. "

said her

s goin

wed before r

re there?"

idiot," I hisse

ould have remembered that a wire came from Jonah just before dinner-it's in my dinner-jacket-saying he was coming up late to-night wi

anged glances of

my sister, "is Har

ettled himsel

drowsily, "is wh

to do anything now. Will you go down and explain? Perhaps he ca

said, taking a cigarette

k if it's true

ll tell you a

ured her husband, "t

w's back, and withdrew before he had time to retaliate. T

shrank into curiosity, his muscles relaxed, and he st

sued was enough to guide me across the hall. The parquet was cold to t

hed the

" I said, "tha

arrel of a .45 automatic pistol, which a stout gentleman, wearing a green mask, w

Just like that. 'Hands up.' It's so romantic. But I had

ok my

for my cigare

one another. Then my fat vis-à-

... As an inveterate smoker, I feel for you. So we'll have a compromise." He nodded towards an armchair which stood by the w

ived him with a venomous growl, and to my a

added. "I'm sure I don't know

proved to be no exception to the

the chair and sat down. As I

speaker. "It's so suggestive. If you'd care to gi

promises,

ther

e said. "Lean well back,

t of a litter of fiction, which had suddenly changed into truth. The impossible had come to pass. The cracksman of the novel had come to life, and I was reluctan

s, and the business-like way in which th

ictating descriptions and particulars to a second, who was seated at the broad writing-table, entering the details, in triplicate, in a large order-book. By his side a third manipulated a pair of scales, weighing each piece with the greatest care and reporting the result to the second, who added the weight to the description. Occasionally th

and method which were remarkable. With the exception of the packe

"to do it all on the spot. Then it's over and done with. I do hope you

"We had it all re-valued only this

pped to my side. Then he backed to the mantelpiece, whence he picked up and brought me a handful of cigarettes, la

ok my

, I'd have saved some. You see, I

ged his

familiarly in my ears: "I don't sit

rry were due to

services of a second suit-case would soon be necessary. I calculated that to complete the bestowal would take the best part of an hour, and began to

said a reproving voice

ph

were traine

teel of another weapon was pressing against my t

you will neither

her unbound hair streaming over her shoulders, she made a beautiful and arresting picture. A kimono of softest apricot, over which sprawled vivid embroideries, here in the guise of parti-colou

tionless.... Then the man with the eye-glass screwed

ll was

g a great chair bodily with apparent

ter bow

on your great heart. I beg tha

sdain swept to the spot indi

right back...

rawn from my throat, and

get to my sister,

burglars,"

ike it,"

is seat upon the club-kerb. His right ha

igarette." I handed her one from the pile

ispered. "Jonah

u will not whisper together. It tends

ed her head with

large staf

there you are. Quot homines, tot sententic?," and with that

cate eyebrows and blew

e quoted, "'the great

ders bega

gentlemen in Mayfair now abed Shall think themselves accursed they were not here.' Sh

laughed

matter of fact, sitting here, se

lookers-on see the easy side. And you,

r my seat," fla

, and, as such, you see the easy side. Now, one of th

doing this out of

sed my sister. "Happily for you, you do not sleep in your pearls. Otherwise, since you are here, I might have fallen... Who knows? As it is, pearls, diamonds and the eme

only the murmur of the ceaseless dictation r

Then the former pointed to Daphne and me, an

softly, was descen

g, and my unwitting brother-in-law invested the last two lines with all

b-b-blowing

-bub-b-bles

ted ever so slightly at his recepti

now, you can't touch me, Reggibald. I'm in balk." His eyes wandered round the room. "Why, there's Nobby. And what's the game? Musical Chairs? I know a better one than

e. Tenderly he wrapped it about her feet and knees. By the time he had finished a t

d lean well back.... That's right. You k

I wouldn't have missed this for a

rogue

two years. And night work tells, you know. Of cou

country. I should see your M.P. about

r shook

eman a match." The packer picked up a match-stand and set it by Berry's sid

d across to the fireplace. There, to my disgust and vexation, he fixed the master w

egan to heave

occasional table upon which the contents of a dessert dish had ap

been given for more than six months. Then he resumed the attractive posture

reflection that in a few hours Nature would assuredly administer to the backs

onah ne

e had done? Impossible. There was probably a man outside-possibly a car, which would set them thinking. Then, even if the brutes got away, their game would b

direction. My heart began to beat violently. Again the speed was changed, and the rising snarl choked to give way to a metallic murmur, which was rapidly approaching. I co

the silver h

eared hi

wag in a sack and then pushed off, and did the rest in the back parlour of a beer-house in Nottin

ken up?" The horror of his uplifted hands would have been more convincing if both of them had been empty. "Why, in a v

ou're a favourite at Lloyd's. D'you mind if I

ndeed, if you would care

hook hi

m honest, so you must have no truck with me. Never

d I could see that the taunt had gone home. No

and had devoured two more chocolates b

way, I wonder if I ought to tell him about the silver which-not. It's only nickel, but I don't want to keep anything back. Oh, and what about the dividend warrant? Of course it wants riveting and-er-forging, and I don't think they'd recognize it, but he could try. If I die before he goes, ask him to leave his address; then, if he leaves anything behind, the butler can send i

What did Alfred A

, while as yet 'tis early morn.' Precisely. But then all

wall was chiming th

onah ne

ring at Berry's brain, for, after a mome

"but will the executive portion of your night's work

you are c

mer time' stunt gives you another hour, doesn'

, I thought you a little-er, equivocal, but let that pass. I only regret t

say, with true chivalry you have abstained from murder and mutilation, and you have suffered me to blow my nose, when a less courte

ub-kerb began to shak

ame down. Most of my hosts I never see, and that's dull, you know, dull. An

ge his rings,"

appreciate that we must take our leave as artlessly as possible, and that the order of our going must be characterized by no unusual

to his side and listened in silence to cert

ed abo

he last suit-case. The clerk was fastening together the sheets which he had detached from the flimsy order-book. N

d probably arrive about five minutes

malefactor lif

lly when it is displayed by a host at two o'clock of a morning. I am therefore going to the root of the matter. In short, I propose to satisfy your very natural curiosity regarding o

carpet which, upon entering, we laid upon the steps. A departure of guests, therefore, even at this advanced hou

will place the suit-cases in the car, at the open door of which he will stand, while my colleagues

ion-"and my entry will coincide with what is a favourable opportunity for the footman to assume the cap and overcoat which he must of necessity wear if

ng the tips of his fingers, as

... and detaining the dog. You"-nonchalantly he pointed an extremely ugly trench-dagger in my direction-"will vouch wi

e. All things considered, the

, crossing the room, laid the terrier in Berry's arms. Then

d crept into the even tones. "The slightest indi

ther-in-law would appreciate the advi

as as suave as ever again. "Th

tifled

e you've a card on you? No. Sorry. I should have liked to remember you in my prayers. Never mind. And you

rry

and urged me towards the door. As

r me! There's that ridiculous word again. Never m

er my sister reg

," she sai

" said Berry. "See

r my eyes. Then I was thrust into a corner of the hall, close to the front door. Immediately this was opene

er coming with a

king ostensibly to one of hi

wait up for J

nd of mine, we were spared much of the tedious interrogation and well-meant, but in

worn masks, such descriptions of them as we could give were very inadequate. However, statements were taken from my siste

appeared, was a veritable Prince of Darkness. Save that he existed, and was a man of large ideas and the utmost daring, to whose charge ha

his hands; you never know-well, when we do take him, as like as not, he'll prove to be a popular M.P., or a recognized authority on livestock or something. You've probably seen him heaps of times in St. James's, and, as like as not, he's a member of your own Club. Depend u

eing enacted upon the ground floor, rendered her inconsolable. Jonah was summoned by telegram, and came pelting from Somerset, to be regaled with a picturesque account of the outrage, the more purple features of which he at first regarded as embroidery, and for some time flatly refused to believe. As was to be e

as to be our last attendance of Chur

ke an immediate and firm line with ourselves, we should presently get Grand Larceny on the brain, and run into some danger of qualifying, not only for admission to Broadmoor, but for detention in that institution till His Majesty's pleasure should be known. F

the Park at

glad Adèle's co

d abstr

the

aid so the o

dn'

Southampton, you'll go to me

, yes. Why sh

I thought, perhap

traffic was occasionally conducive to

t my proper

ow, b

t w

ean," said Jill, with a daring ir

of girlish innocence, eager to show yourself a pert and scheming butterfly." My cousin regarded me with feigned bewil

o restrain the guilty laughter w

u just love her

very rap

o," said I. "She'

it," s

I forgot. Hides them under her h

and taking notice. Your adol-adol-er-what you said, is at

irl. And what are you getting at

don't want you to, dear, but I know you've g

her voice, and I looked do

my cousin-a little fair girl, with great grey eyes and the prettiest ways an

at my arm

ry--Oh, I say!

courtesies with an Aberdeen. The two were walking round each other with a terrible deliberation, and from their respectiv

ted and, after a menacing look at his opponent, presumably intended to discourage an attack in re

e, whom we had outdistanced

eproving t

ple," said a

der excitement which he with difficulty suppres

he Row," he said jerkily. "If you see anyone you recognize, t

," said Berry, "th

recognize a vo

w, we're in the open ai

k I I know it's a chance in a million. Think me m

ness was ir

and started to stroll in the direction of The Row. Jill walked beside me, twittering, and a glance over my shou

and entered the wa

and two little girls The Row was empty, but the walk was as crowded as a comfortably filled ball-room, if you except the dancers who are s

sitors had already arrived. But there was apparent the same quiet air of gaiety, the same good humour which

swered, but my heart was pounding against my ribs, and I was glancing ince

r. Always Berry and Daphne were close behind

walk more

ed that I was str

for my han

said Jill. "Wha

sin to follow the d

s affecting not to see the terrier, but there was a queer frozen look about his broad smile that set me staring. Even as I gazed

nd I stood

took of