was free to
make what he could of the house opposite.

But there was precious little to be gained in that respect. The house
was all fastened up, there were shutters to the windows on the ground
floor; the garden was tried next, but there was no litter anywhere such
as might have been caused by a hasty removal. Clearly if the house was
closed up it was only for a day or two, as the parlourmaid had told the
policeman.

At the end of an hour Berrington was not a whit wiser than before.

He crossed over the road and there on a seat under the trees was a
sailor like himself. Field did not assume to be asleep but was pulling
at a short clay pipe.

"Come and sit down, sir," he said. "I've just come. As I anticipated, I
am being watched. But I managed to give my shadowers quite a wrong
impression and I passed from the house, where I keep a few stock
disguises, under their very noses. They imagine that they are following
me up West by this time."

"I am afraid all the trouble has been wasted," Berrington said
irritably. "The birds have flown."

"Indeed, sir. And who did you get that valuable piece of information
from?"

"From my friend the policeman that I told you about. The house is shut
up for a few days and the authorities have been informed of the fact. I
have been all around the house and it is as silent as the grave."

"Well, that might be merely a blind, after all," Field said cheerfully.
"When did they go?"

"So far as I can gather from Macklin, they departed early this morning."

Field chuckled but said nothing. A little while later there was a thud
of heavy boots on the pavement, and Macklin and his sergeant came,
together. The latter was about to say something but Field produced his
card and the effect was instantaneous.

"No, we don't want any assistance at all," the Scotland Yard official
said. "All you can do is to go about your work as if nothing was taking
place. You may notice something suspicious presently at No. 100, across
the road, but you are to ignore it. You understand?"

The sergeant nodded and touched his helmet; he understood perfectly
well. The two passed on together and the sham sailors crossed the road.
Very quietly Field proceeded to the back of the house. It was a little
dark here, and he guided himself by pressing his fingers to the walls.
Presently he stopped, and a low chuckle came from his lips.

"Discovery the first, sir," he said. "Press your hand on the wall here.
What do