vant, who had entered unobserved, coughed deprecatingly.

"Her ladyship sends her excuses, sir," he said, "and says she will write
you later."

He ushered the young man to the outer door.

Upon the top step Frank halted stiffly. He found himself face to face
with Poltavo.

The Count greeted him gravely.

"A sad business!" he murmured. "You have seen the ladies? How does Miss
Gray bear it? She is well?"

Frank gazed at him darkly.

"Your note recovered her!" he said, quietly.

"Mine!" Surprise was in the Count's voice. "But I have not written. I am
come in person."

Frank's face expressed scornful incredulity. He lifted his hat grimly
and descended the steps, and came into collision with a smiling,
brown-faced man.

"Mr. Smith!" he said, eagerly, "is there any news?"

T. B. looked at him curiously.

"The Thames police have picked up the body of a man bearing upon his
person most of Mr. Farrington's private belongings."

"Then it is true! It is suicide?"

T. B. looked past him.

"If a man cut his own head off before jumping into the river, it was
suicide," he said carefully, "for the body is headless. As for myself, I
have never witnessed such a phenomenon, and I am sceptical."

A train drew into the arrival platform at Waterloo and a tall man
alighted. Nearer at hand he did not appear to be so young as the first
impression suggested. For there was a powdering of grey at each temple
and certain definite lines about his mouth.

His face was tanned brown, and it required no great powers of
observation and deduction to appreciate the fact that he had recently
returned to England after residence in a hot climate.

He stood on the edge of the curb outside the new entrance of the
station, hesitating whether he should take his chance of finding a cab
or whether he should pick up one in the street, for the night was wet
and cold and his train had been full.

Whilst he stood a big taxi came noiselessly to the curb and the driver
touched his cap.

"Thank you," said the man with a smile. "You can drive me to the
Metropole."

He swung the door open and his foot was on the step when a hand touched
him lightly, and he turned to meet the scrutiny of a pair of humorous
grey eyes.

"I think you had better take another cab, Dr. Goldworthy," said the
stranger.

"I am afraid----" began the doctor.

The driver of the car, after a swift glance at the new-comer, would have
driven off, but an unmistakable dete