ot that it's
any use asking _you_. You're so devilish close-mouthed a man might
as well ask questions of a ton of coal for all answer he may hope
to get. I shall always believe, however, that you did something
pretty dashed bad to the King of Mauravania that time you were over
there on that business about the Rainbow Pearl, to make the beggar
turn against you, as I believe he _has_."

"Then, you will always believe what isn't true," replied Cleek,
lighting a fresh cigarette. "I simply restored the pearl and his
Majesty's letter to the hands of Count Irma, and did not so much
as see the King while I was there. Why should I?--a mere police
detective, who had been hired to do a service and paid for it like
any other hireling. I took my money and I went my way; that's all
there was about it. If it has pleased Count Waldemar to entertain an
ugly feeling of resentment toward me, I can't help that, can I now?"

"Oh, then, it's really a personal affair between you and him, after
all?"

"Something like that. He doesn't approve of my--er--knowing things
that I do know; and it would be the end of a very promising future
for him if I told. Here--have a cigarette and smoke yourself into
a better temper. You look savage enough to bite a nail in two."

"I'd bite it in four if it looked anything like that Waldemar
johnnie, by James!" asserted the superintendent, vigorously. "And if
ever he lays a hand on _you_----Look here, Cleek: I know it sounds
un-English, very Continental, rotten 'soft' from one man to another,
but--dammit, Cleek, I love you! I'd go to hell for you! I'd die
fighting for you! Do you understand?"

"Perfectly," said Cleek; then he put out his hand and took Mr.
Narkom's in a hard, firm grip, and added, gently: "My friend, my
comrade, my _pal_! Side by side--together--to the end." And the car
ran on for a good half mile before either spoke again.

CHAPTER XXXII

"Mr. Narkom!"

It was an hour later, and Cleek's voice broke the silence abruptly.
He had taken out his notebook and had been scribbling in it for some
little time, but now, as he spoke, he tore out the written leaf and
passed it over to the superintendent.

"Mr. Narkom, I refused, in the beginning, to give you the address
of the little house at which I was located. Here it is. Put it in
your pocketbook against future need, will you?"

"Yes, certainly. But cinnamon! old chap, what good is it to me now
when you've left the place?"

"You wi