nly an hour ago,--Streuss, that blackguard
Lassen, and Adolf Kahn, the police spy. They are beaten men and
they know it. They had Laverick, had him by a trick, but I made a
dramatic entrance and the game was up."

"Telephone me directly you have taken it safely to Downing Street,"
she begged.

"I will," he promised.

Bellamy walked from Dover Street to the Strand. The streets were
almost brilliant with the cold, hard moonlight. The air seemed
curiously keen. Once or twice the fall of his feet upon the pavement
was so clear and distinct that he fancied he was being followed and
glanced sharply around. He reached the Milan Hotel, however,
without adventure, and looked towards the little open space in the
hall where he had expected to find Laverick. There was no one
there! He stood still for a moment, troubled with a sudden sense
of apprehension. The place was deserted except for a couple of
sleepy-looking clerks and a small army of cleaners busy with their
machines down in the restaurant, moving about like mysterious
figures in the dim light.

Bellamy turned back to the hall-porter who had admitted him.

"Do you happen to know what has become of the gentleman whom I was
with about an hour ago?" he asked,--"a tall, fair gentleman--Mr.
Laverick his name was?"

The hall-porter recognized Bellamy and touched his hat.

"Why, yes, sir!" he answered with a somewhat mysterious air. "Mr.
Laverick was sitting over there in an easy-chair until about
half-an-hour ago. Then two gentle-men arrived in a taxicab and
inquired for him. They talked for a little time, and finally Mr.
Laverick went away with them."

Bellamy was puzzled.

"Went away with them?" he repeated. "I don't understand that,
Reynolds. He was to have waited here till I returned."

The man hesitated.

"It didn't strike me, sir," he said, "that Mr. Laverick was very
wishful to go. It seemed as though he hadn't much choice about the
matter."

Bellamy looked at him keenly.

"Tell me what is in your mind?" he asked.

"Mr. Bellamy, sir," the hall-porter replied, "I knew one of those
gentlemen by sight. He was a detective from Scotland Yard, and the
one who was with him was a policeman in plain clothes."

"Good God!" Bellamy exclaimed. "You think, then,--"

"I am afraid there was no doubt about it, sir," the man answered.
"Mr. Laverick was arrested on some charge."

CHAPTER XXXIV

MORRISON'S DISCLOSURE

Into New Oxford Stree