ief. And
now that you tell me you have not received Rickerby's cheque I feel all
the more certain of it. Don't you think it would be as well to go over
to The Nook and remove that telephone? It always struck me as a
dangerous thing to leave it on the roof. You never know what
inquisitive people there may be about. If anybody acquainted with racing
only saw it they would be sure to make inquiries. We had better take the
car and run over before it is dark. What do you say?"

Foster had no objection; in fact, he rather liked the idea. Half an hour
later the car was crossing the country and before dusk the two reached
their destination. They were later than they had expected in consequence
of a breakdown on the road, but they seemed to be in time, for the house
was quiet and deserted and, so far as they could see, nobody had been
meddling with the telephone. Foster drew down the blinds and lit the
gas. It had not occurred to him to lock the front door. There was no
occasion for hurry and, after procuring a chest of tools, he started on
his work, which presented few difficulties.

Then the door opened and two men walked deliberately into the hall.
Copley turned upon them with a snarl.

CHAPTER XLI

HOME AGAIN

"What do you mean by this?" Copley demanded.

The intruders were not in the least abashed. On the contrary, they had
every evidence of being very sure of their ground. The foremost touched
Copley on the shoulder.

"Mr. Raymond Copley, I believe?" he said politely.

"It would be foolish to deny it," Copley sneered.

"Very good, sir," the stranger went on. "And this other gentleman is Mr.
Foster?"

Foster nodded uneasily. He held the screwdriver he was using and waited
for developments with white face and quivering lips.

"That being so, gentlemen," the stranger said, "I may as well introduce
myself. I am Inspector Andrews of Scotland Yard and this is my
assistant. We have a warrant for the arrest of both of you on the charge
of obtaining a large sum of money by means of a trick from Mr. Selwyn
and others in connection with race meetings at Mirst Park. The warrant
was obtained on the information of Mr. Selwyn, and you will please
consider yourselves my prisoners. Anything you say, of course, will be
given in evidence against you."

Copley cursed himself under his breath. What a fool he had been to come
here! The matter would have been bad enough if he had been arrested at
Seton Manor, but to be ta