--just said something had
occurred which made cash necessary, and was very polite and apologetic,
generally. The manager formed a notion that it must be for some gambling
purpose--he fancied that Mayes said something distantly alluding to
that, but wasn't sure."

"Did you ask about the address given to the bank?"

"Of course; but there we gained nothing. The manager couldn't remember
it exactly, and the books, of course, were locked up. But we know it
already--for what the manager _could_ remember was that it was an office
address, and somewhere near Barbican! So that we are back at the
Barbican den again, where I am going now, with Plummer, to give a day to
a minute investigation of the whole place. Meanwhile a watch is being
set at the bank in Holloway."

"Do you expect him back there, then?"

"Hardly. You see he knows that by this time we must have found his
cheque-book, and will be on the watch. But there is just a chance--a
very remote one--that he may send a message; perhaps send somebody to
cash a cheque. Though I don't expect it, for he is no fool--he is,
indeed, a sort of genius--and that would be a mistake, I think. Still,
he is bold, and that is where his money is, and he may make a dash at
it. So a couple of Plummer's men are to be waiting there, this morning,
in the manager's office, and if anybody comes from Mayes he will be
detained. Perhaps you would like to be with them? You can't be of much
use with me, and the job will be dull. But there you _may_ have a chance
of excitement, and you will be useful to come and report if anything
does happen. Why, you may even bag Mayes himself!"

"Of course--I'll go anywhere you please. They told you last night, I
suppose, that Peytral had business, and had gone off?"

"Yes, and I'm not sorry. He is too dangerous a man to have about us,
with his hot blood and the terrible injuries he keeps in memory. As
likely as not, if we get Mayes, we should next have to collar Peytral
for shooting him, or something. So I'm not sorry he is out of it for a
bit. But can you start now? Plummer is in my office and the two men are
in a cab outside. The bank opens at nine, and that is in Upper
Holloway."

I seized my hat and made ready.

"You should keep your eyes open," Hewitt hinted, "before you get to the
bank and when you leave, as well as while you're there. Do you remember
how poor Mason was watched? Well, there is probably some watching going
on now. Last night, on our w