off guard at seven and
after he had joined the clergyman in the Men's Club, to sort out the
facts and their consequences.

* * * * *

About half-past ten the three held a consultation under the archway,
while trains rumbled overhead. They attracted very little attention
here: the archway is dark and wide; they were muffled to the eyes; and
there usually is a fringe of people standing under shelter here on rainy
evenings. They leaned back against the wall and talked.

They had taken further steps since they had last met. Mr. Parham-Carter
had been round to the jam factory, and had returned with the news that
the van had come back under the charge of only one of the drivers, and
that the other one, who was called Gregory (whom Mr. Parham-Carter was
inquiring after), would certainly be dismissed in consequence. He had
taken the address of the driver, who was now off duty--somewhere in
Homerton--with the intention of going to see him next morning if Frank
had not appeared.

There were two points they were discussing now. First, should the police
be informed? Secondly, was it probable that Frank would have heard the
news, and, if so, was it conceivable that he had gone straight off
somewhere in consequence--to his lawyers, or even to Merefield itself?

Dick remembered the name of the firm quite well--at least, he thought
so. Should he send a wire to inquire?

But then, in that case, Jack shrewdly pointed out, everything was as it
should be. And this reflection caused the three considerable comfort.

For all that, there were one or two "ifs." Was it likely that Frank
should have heard the news? He was notoriously hard up, and the name
Talgarth had not appeared, so far, on any of the posters. Yet he might
easily have been given a paper, or picked one up ... and then....

So the discussion went on, and there was not much to be got out of it.
The final decision come to was this: That guard should be kept, as
before, until twelve o'clock midnight; that at that hour the three
should leave the archway and, in company, visit two places--Turner Road
and the police-station--and that the occupants of both these places
should be informed of the facts. And that then all three should go to
bed.

(IV)

At ten minutes past eleven Dick moved away from the fire in the Men's
Club, where he had just been warming himself after his vigil, and began
to walk up and down.

He had no idea why he was so u