"I left him in the optician's, sir," the clerk answered. "He was
buying some spectacles."

Laverick glanced at the floor, where the remains of those
gold-rimmed glasses were scattered.

"You had better send for a locksmith at once," he said. "The
gentleman who has been here had a skeleton key to my safe. We'll
have a combination put on."

"Very good, sir," Halsey answered.

"And, Halsey," his master continued, "be careful about one thing,
for your own sake as well as mine. If that man presents himself
again, don't let him come into my room unannounced. If you can
help it, don't let him come in at all. I have an idea that he
might be dangerous."

The clerk's face was a study.

"If he presents himself here, sir," he announced stiffly, "I shall
take the liberty of sending for the police."

Laverick made no reply.

CHAPTER XXVIII

LAVERICK'S NARROW ESCAPE

At precisely a quarter past four, nothing having happened in the
meantime but a steady rush of business, Laverick ordered a taxicab
to be summoned. He then unlocked his safe, placed the pocket-book
securely in his breast pocket, walked through the office, and
directed the man to drive to Chancery Lane. Here at the headquarters
of the Safe Deposit Company he engaged a compartment, and down in
the strong-room locked up the pocket-book. There was only now the
document left. Stepping once more into the street, he found that
his taxicab had vanished. He looked up and down in vain. The man
had not been paid and there seemed to be no reason for his
departure. A policeman who was standing by touched his hat and
addressed him.

"Were you looking for that taxi you stepped out of a few minutes ago,
sir?" he asked.

"I was," Laverick answered. "I hadn't paid him and I told him to
wait."

"I thought there was something queer about it," the policeman
remarked. "Soon after you had gone inside, two gentlemen drove up
in a hansom. They got out here and one of them spoke to your driver,
who shook his head and pointed to his flag. The gent then said
something else to him--can't say as I heard what it was, but it
was probably offering him double fare. Anyway, they both got in
and off went your taxi, sir."

"Thank you," Laverick said thoughtfully. "It sounds a little
perplexing."

He hesitated for a moment.

"Constable," he continued, "I have just made a very valuable deposit
in there, and I had an idea that I might be followed. I have st