n his pocket.
Outside he met Ela.

"Have you got him?" asked the detective.

T. B. nodded.

"I have taken him," he said; "moreover, I rather fancy I have got the
whole outfit in my hands."

"The Secret House?" asked Ela eagerly.

"Everything," said T. B.; "it all depends upon what we can do with
Poltavo. If we can avoid bringing him before a magistrate, I can smash
this organization. I know it is contrary to the law, but it is in the
interests of the law. How many men have we available?"

"There are a hundred and fifty in the town of Great Bradley itself,"
said Ela calmly; "half of them local constabulary, and half of them our
own men."

"Send a man down to order them to take up a position round the Secret
House, allow nobody to leave it, stop all motor-cars approaching or
departing from the house, and above all things no car is to leave Great
Bradley without its occupants being carefully scrutinized. What's that?"
he turned suddenly.

A sudden muffled scream had broken into the conversation and it had come
from the inside of the cottage.

"Quick!" snapped T. B.

He sprang into the passage of the cottage, reached the door of the room
where he had left his prisoner, slipped the key in the lock with an
unerring hand and flung open the door.

The room was empty.

CHAPTER XIX

Farrington and Dr. Fall were closeted together in the latter's office.
Something had happened, which was responsible for the gloom on the face
of the usually imperturbable doctor, and for the red rage which glowered
in the older man's eyes.

"You are sure of this?" he asked.

"Quite sure," said Dr. Fall briefly; "he is making every preparation to
leave London. His trunks went away from Charing Cross last night for
Paris. He has let his house and collected the rent in advance, and he
has practically sold the furniture. There can be no question whatever
that our friend has betrayed us."

"He would not dare," breathed Farrington.

The veins stood out on his forehead; he was controlling his passionate
temper by a supreme effort.

"I saved this man from beggary, Fall; I took the dog out of the gutter,
and I gave him a chance when he had already forfeited his life. He would
not dare!"

"My experience of criminals of this character," said Dr. Fall calmly,
"is that they will dare anything. You see, he is a particularly
obnoxious specimen of his race; all suaveness, treachery, and
remorseless energy. He would betray you; he