corner suddenly he almost collided with a policeman.

"Tryin' to wake the whole place?" enquired the policeman. "Where are
you goin', makin' such a row about it?"

"To 'ell, same as you, ole sport," responded Bindle cheerfully.
"Goo'-night! See yer later!"

The policeman grumbled something and passed on. Presently Bindle saw
the lights of a coffee-stall, towards which he walked briskly. Over
two sausages and some bacon he reviewed the situation, chaffed the
proprietor, and treated to a meal the bedraggled remnants of what had
once been a woman, whom he found hovering hungrily about the stall.

When he eventually said "Good-mornin'" to his host and guest, he had
worked out his plan of campaign.

He walked in the direction of the police-station, having first resumed
his bandages. Day was beginning to break. Seeing a man approaching
him, he quickened his pace to a run. As he came within a few yards of
the man, who appeared to be of the labourer class, he slackened his
pace, then stopped abruptly.

"Where's the police-station, mate?" he enquired, panting as if with
great exertion.

"The police-station?" repeated the man curiously. "Straight up the
road, then third or fourth to the right, then----"

"Is it miles?" panted Bindle.

"'Bout quarter of a mile, not more. What's up, mate?" the man
enquired. "Been 'urt?"

"Quarter of a mile, and 'im bleedin' to death! I got to fetch a
doctor," Bindle continued. Then, as if with sudden inspiration, he
thrust Professor Conti's letter into the astonished man's hands.

"In the name of the law I order yer to take this letter to the
police-station. I'll go for a doctor. Quick--it's burglary and
murder! 'Ere's a bob for yer trouble."

With that, Bindle sped back the way he had come, praying that no
policeman might see him and give chase.

The workman stood looking stupidly from the letter and the shilling in
his hand to the retreating form of Bindle. After a moment's hesitation
he pocketed the coin, and with a grumble in his throat and the fear of
the Law in his heart, he turned and slowly made his way to the
police-station.

II

When Professor Conti awoke on the morning of the burglary, he was
horrified to find, from the medley of sounds without, produced by
hooters and bells, that it was half-past eight.

Jumping quickly out of bed, he shaved, washed, and dressed with great
expedition, and before nine was in a telephone call-box ringing up the
pol