not going to give me up. Do you hear?"

"I can make no promises, Arthur," she answered sadly, "only this--I
shall not let Stephen Laverick suffer in your stead."

He opened his hand and she shrank back, terrified, when she saw what
it was that he was holding. Then he struck her down and without a
backward glance fled out of the place.

CHAPTER XXXV

BELLAMY'S SUCCESS

Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the
commissionaire, and the chief maitre d'hotel from the Cafe, who
happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the
place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an
unexpected surprise. A large closed motor-car drove up to the
front entrance and several men descended, among whom was Laverick
himself. He nodded to the hall-porter, whose salute was purely
mechanical, and making his way without hesitation to the interior
of the hotel, presented his receipt at the cashier's desk and asked
for his packet. The clerk looked up at him in amazement. He did
not, for the moment, notice that the two men standing immediately
behind bore the stamp of plain-clothes policemen. He had only a
few minutes ago finished reading the report of Laverick's
examination before the magistrates and his remand until the morrow,
upon the charge of murder. His knowledge of English law was by no
means perfect, but he was at least aware that Laverick's appearance
outside the purlieus of the prison was an unusual happening.

"Your packet, sir!" he repeated, in amazement. "Why, this is Mr.
Laverick himself, is it not?"

"Certainly," was the quiet reply. "I am Stephen Laverick."

The clerk called the head cashier, who also stared at Laverick as
though he were a ghost. They whispered together in the background
for a moment, and their faces were a study in perplexity. Of
Laverick's identity, however, there was no manner of doubt. Besides,
the presence of what was obviously a very ample escort somewhat
reassured them. The cashier himself came forward.

"We shall be exceedingly glad, Mr. Laverick," he said dryly, "to
get rid of your packet. Your instructions were that we should
disregard all orders to hand it over to any person whatsoever, and
I may say that they have been strictly adhered to. We have,
however, had two applications in your name this morning."

"They were both forgeries," Laverick declared.

The cashier hesitated. Then he leaned across the broad mahogany
c