n the
secret service police?"

Monsieur Louis glanced a little nervously over his shoulder.

"Never mind what I mean, Sir George," he said quickly. "There are things
which we do not speak of openly. This much is sufficient. I represent a
power which can influence and direct even the criminal courts of justice
of France."

"What bribe have I to offer you?" Duncombe asked. "Information? You know
more than I do. I am afraid you have been misled."

"I think not," Monsieur Louis said quickly. "I will tell you what we
want. A paper was left in your charge by Miss Phyllis Poynton at the
time she was visiting at Runton Place."

"What of it?" Duncombe asked.

The Frenchman's face was suddenly tense with excitement. He recovered
himself almost at once, but his voice shook, and a new earnestness found
its way into his manner.

"Miss Poynton and her brother are with us," he said. "It is we who have
been their benefactors. You know a good deal of their peculiar
circumstances. A sudden need has arisen for the production of that paper
within twenty-four hours. Give it to me now, and I will run the greatest
risk I have ever run in my career. I will tear those warrants through."

"Have you any authority from Miss Poynton?" Duncombe asked.

"There was no time to procure it," Monsieur Louis explained. "Events
march rapidly to-day. To be effective that paper must be in Paris
to-morrow. The necessity for its production arose only a few hours ago."

"You ask me, then," Duncombe said slowly, "to hand over to you a paper
which was placed in my charge by Miss Poynton?"

"In effect--yes!"

"I cannot do it!"

Monsieur Louis shrugged his shoulders.

"I do not insist," he remarked. "I may be permitted to remind you,
however, that I have offered a great price."

"Perhaps!" Duncombe answered quietly.

Monsieur Louis turned to his assistants.

"Sir George Duncombe will accompany us," he said. "I can give you ten
minutes, Sir George," he added, "in case you care to change your
clothes."

"And supposing I refuse to come?" Duncombe asked.

Monsieur Louis smiled.

"You would scarcely be so foolish," he remarked. "In that case I should
send the policeman here to the nearest station with the warrants and a
demand for help. Our documents are in perfect order, and our case
complete. You would scarcely be so foolish, I think, as to set yourself
in direct opposition to the law!"

Duncombe was silent for several moments. Then he rang