e photographs Rayne had
shown me--the man with the moonstone in his tie.

I ordered my drink loudly, and looked him full in the face. Then, when
a few moments later I had drunk it, I wished the barman good night and
went out. Reentering the car, I drove out of the village towards
Guildford, and there waited expectantly. In ten minutes he came out of
the darkness.

"Mr. Hargreave?" he asked, and, after replying, I invited him inside
the car, whereupon he at once recognized Madame in the half-light. It
was plain that they were known to each other.

"I expected Vincent would be with you. Where is he?" asked the man
named Houston.

"He's away. I don't know exactly where he is," Madame replied. "But
what game are we going to play to-night?"

"A very merry one. It may be amusing, it may be tragic," was the man's
reply. "We're picking up May Cranston at Horsley Station presently."

"May Cranston!" echoed Madame, astounded. "I thought she went to
America after that affair in Dinard!"

"So she did, but she's back again. May is a pretty shrewd girl, you
know."

"I'm well aware of that. But why are we meeting her?"

"She'll probably tell you," was the fellow's reply, and, at his
direction, I turned the car into a narrow side road which ran for
miles through woods and coppices until at last, after passing through
two small villages, we came to a wayside station dimly lit by oil
lamps.

There we waited for about a quarter of an hour, when the slow train
from Waterloo ran in, and from a first-class carriage there stepped a
tall, well-dressed girl wearing a rich fur coat and small hat. She was
evidently expecting the car to meet her, for she walked straight up to
it and entered, being greeted by Madame and Houston, who were inside.

I followed the newcomer and got into the driver's seat, whereupon
Madame introduced me.

The moment she opened her lips I knew she was American, and also from
her speech and expressions I knew that she was a crook who moved in
good society.

"We'll drive through Merrow and over to Hindhead," Houston said. "We'd
better avoid the High Street of Guildford, for the police might
possibly spot the car. So we'll go by the side roads. I was over there
three days ago on a motor-bike, so I'll pilot you."

And then he turned to gossip merrily with the good-looking American
girl, who seemed most enthusiastic concerning our mysterious
adventure.

"To-night ought to bring us a clear twenty thousand