e you as he'll be put to sleep. After the train
leaves Macon, Vincent will pass you something. You will watch for
three white lights set in a row beside the railway line. Tracy will be
down there in waiting. When you see the three lights throw out what
Vincent gives to you. Understand?"

I now saw the plot. They had knowledge that old Blumenfeld was
travelling with a quantity of negotiable securities which he intended
to hand to his agent at Marseilles on his way to Cannes, and they
meant to relieve him of them!

"I shall be fast asleep," Rayne went on, and turning to Duperre, he
said: "Here's the old fellow's master-key. It opens everything."

"By Jove!" whispered Vincent. "That was a clever ruse of yours to
contrive the old man to faint and then take an impression of the key
upon his chain."

"It was the only way to get possession of it," Rayne declared with an
evil grin. "But both of you know how to act, so I'll soon retire."

And a few moments later I went out leaving both men together. The
train roared into a long tunnel and then out again across many high
embankments and over bridges. Rain was falling in torrents and lashed
the windows as we sped due south on our way to Dijon. At last I knew
the cause and motive of the old financier's fainting fit. The reason
of our visit to Bradbourne had been in order to obtain an impression
of the old fellow's little master-key which opened all his luggage,
his dispatch-boxes, and even the great safes at the office in Old
Broad Street.

I hated the part I was forced to play, yet there certainly was an
element of danger in it, and in that I delighted. Therefore I
partially undressed, turned in, and read the newspaper, anxiously
waiting for the hour of three and wondering in what manner Duperre
intended to rob the victim. I hoped that no violence would be used.

The minutes crept on slowly as, time after time, I glanced at my
watch. In the compartment next to mine the millionaire was sleeping,
all unconscious of the insidious plot. The brown-uniformed conductor
was asleep--no doubt he had taken a drink with Duperre. Besides, the
corridor at each end of the sleeping-saloon was closed and locked.

At last, at five minutes to three, I very cautiously opened my door
and stepped into the empty corridor. The train was again in a tunnel,
the noise deafening and the atmosphere stifling. As soon as we were
out in the open I noiselessly lowered the window and found that we
were p