e, and scribbled
something upon the pad before him.

"Will you repeat that?" he asked. "I want to be quite clear."

Then he listened again very intently.

"Right! I'll be with you at ten to-night," he replied, and then hung
up the receiver.

"I must go to London," he said, turning to me. "You'll drive me into
York, and I can catch the four-thirty up. You stay here and meet that
Italian chap to-morrow at six, and tell him that I'm up at Half Moon
Street. Give him my address, and ask him to see me there. After you've
seen him, start in the car for London and carry out the instructions I
gave you on Monday."

Then he went to his room, changed his clothes, and came down to lunch
in very bright spirits. It seemed that by the Italian's visit he was
now not in the least perturbed.

I drove him with Lola to York, where he went to London and Lola to
Scarborough. Afterwards I dined at the Station Hotel alone, and
returned to Overstow, which seemed chill and lonely. The local doctor
happily looked in during the evening, and I played him a game at
billiards.

In impatient curiosity I waited until next day, when, punctually at
six o'clock, Signor Gori was shown into a little room adjoining the
great hall, and there I joined him in the capacity of a busy man's
secretary.

"I much regret, Signor Gori," I said, after we had bowed, "but Mr.
Rayne was called to London quite unexpectedly upon some very urgent
business. He presents his apologies and asks whether you can manage to
meet him in London when it is convenient to you. Will you telephone to
him?" And I gave him the address of Rayne's rooms.

"His apologies!" echoed the Italian, with a very marked accent and a
gesture of ridicule. "The apologies of 'The Golden Face'! Ah! my dear
friend, you are his secretary; you are not the principal in this very
serious affair."

"Serious. How?" I asked in pretense of ignorance, and hoping thereby
to learn something.

"_Madonna Santa!_ You do not know--you do not realize the depths of
that man's villainy! I do! I am the one person who has penetrated the
veil of secrecy beneath which he has so long remained hidden. Querot,
of the Paris Surete, and Tetani, of the Public Security of Italy, are
my friends. I can now go to them, as I shall."

"My dear sir!" I exclaimed. "The matter is no affair of mine! I am
simply a paid secretary to do Mr. Rayne's correspondence, and
sometimes to drive his car. There my engagement ends."

"Then be