tain which."

"Which of course he took from his pocket?"

"Yes, sir."

"Very good," I said. Then turning to the police officer, "Now, Mr.
Inspector, shall we be off to the _Canary Bird_?"

"If you wish it, sir. In the meantime I'll send instructions back by
these men to the different stations. Before breakfast time we must have
the man who held the horse."

"You don't know him, I suppose?" I asked Thompson.

"No, sir; but I've seen him before," he answered.

"He's a Sydney fellow, then?"

"Oh yes, sir."

"Then there should be no difficulty in catching him. Now let us be
going."

Mr. Wetherell rose to accompany us, but hard though it was to stop him I
eventually succeeded in dissuading him from such a course.

"But you will let me know directly you discover anything, won't you, Mr.
Hatteras?" he cried as we were about to leave the room. "Think of my
anxiety."

I gave my promise and then, accompanied by the Inspector, left the
house. Hailing a passing cab we jumped into it and told the driver to
proceed as fast as he could to the hotel in question. Just as we started
a clock in the neighbourhood struck twelve. Phyllis had been in Nikola's
hands three hours.

Pulling up opposite the _Canary Bird_ (the place where the coachman had
been drugged), we jumped out and bade the cabman wait. The hotel was in
complete darkness, and it was not until we had pealed the bell twice
that we succeeded in producing any sign of life. Then the landlord, half
dressed, carrying a candle in his hand, came downstairs and called out
to know who was there and what we wanted. My companion immediately said
"Police," and in answer to that magic word the door was unbarred.

"Good-evening, Mr. Bartrell," said the Inspector. "May we come in for a
moment on business?"

"Certainly, Mr. Inspector," said the landlord, who evidently knew my
companion. "But isn't this rather late for a call. I hope there is
nothing the matter?"

"Nothing much," returned the Inspector: "only we want to make a few
inquiries about a man who was here to-night, and for whom we are
looking."

"If that is so I'm afraid I must call my barman. I was not in the bar
this evening. If you'll excuse me I'll go and bring him down. In the
meantime make yourselves comfortable."

He left us to kick our heels in the hall while he went upstairs again.
In about ten minutes, and just as my all-consuming impatience was
well-nigh getting the better of me, he returned, bringi