once, and
investigate. Only we shall have to call at the Post Office and borrow a
clerk out of the telegraph department. Come along."

Field volunteered no explanation, and his puzzled colleague followed him
out of the office. The telegraph operator and the others stood opposite
the house in Audley Place till the patience of all was pretty well
exhausted. Then suddenly the light began to flicker in the upper part of
the house.

"Isn't that a message of some kind?" Field asked of the telegraph clerk.

"Right," the other said promptly. "That's a kind of telegraph dash and
dot system. Whistle a bar from 'when we are married.' Thank you, sir.
That's what the gentleman who is sending out those flash signals is
asking somebody to do who happens to understand. That last lot of
flashes means 'Thank the Lord!' Now he's getting to business. He wants
to know who we are before he goes on."

"Can't you give it back again in any way?" Field asked. "Say it's me."

Very loudly the telegraphic operator tapped the pavement with his stick.
It sounded quite meaningless, but the light in the house flared up and
down in a triumphant kind of way. The flickering began once more and
then stopped.

"It's Colonel Berrington," the clerk said presently. "He says you are
not to bother about him in the least, as he is quite safe, and so long
as he is in there the men are not likely to do anything rash. And here
comes the gist of the message. You are to go to Edward Street in the
Borough and keep an eye on one of the houses there,--the Colonel doesn't
know which. And you are to go at once, he says."

CHAPTER XIX

Something had been accomplished, at any rate. It was good to know that
Berrington was safe and as satisfied with his surroundings as it was
possible to be under the circumstances. Though he was a prisoner, he
seemed to have been able to obtain important information which he had
managed to convey to the outside world without alarming his captors.

"It's not so bad altogether," Field said. "Though I am by no means
pleased with the gallant Colonel, who has only himself to blame for the
position in which he finds himself. You can all go back to the station,
and I shall not want the telegraph gentleman, whose services have been
so valuable. Of course, you will say nothing of what you have seen,
sir."

The little telegraph clerk gave the desired assurance and went his way.
But Field did not turn his steps in the direction of Lo