e
corridor, while Crawford made for the front. They crept soundlessly
forward. Lord Monckton? What was up? Shoot the valet if necessary!
All right; Crawford knew what he was doing. He generally did. Through
his window Forbes saw two men packing suit-cases furiously. The moment
Crawford entered the room, Forbes did likewise, without the least idea
what it was all about.

"Put up your hands!" said Crawford quietly.

Master and man came about face.

"H'm! The dyed beard and stained skin might fool any one but me,
Mason."

Mason! Forbes' hand shook violently.

"I have seen you with a beard before, in the days when we hadn't time
for razors. I knew you the instant I laid eyes on you. Now, then, a
few words. I do not care to stand in your debt. Haggerty is
down-stairs. Upon two occasions you saved my life . . . Keep your eye
on your man, Forbes! . . . Twice you saved my life. I'm going to give
you a chance in return. An hour's start, perhaps. Forbes, come over
to me. That's it. Give me the automatic. There. Now, go through
their pockets carefully, and put everything in your own. Leave the
money. Mason, a boat leaves to-morrow noon for Liverpool. I'll ship
your trunks and grips to the American Express Company there. Do you
understand? If I ever see you again, I shan't lift a finger to save
you."

The late Lord Henry Monckton shrugged. He had not lived intimately
with this quiet-voiced man for ten years without having acquired the
knowledge that he never wasted words.

"You're a dangerously clever man, Mason. I noted at dinner that in
some manner you had destroyed Haggerty's photograph of your
finger-tips. But I recognize you, and know you--your gestures, the
turn of your head, every little mannerism. And if you do not do as I
bid, I'll take my oath in court as to your identity. Besides,"--with a
nod toward the suitcases--"if you're not the man, why this hurry? An
hour. I see, fortunately, you have already changed your clothes. Be
off!"

"All right. I'm Mason. I knew the game was up the moment I saw you.
Any one but you, Mr. Crawford, would pay for this interruption, pistol
or no pistol. An hour. So be it. You might tell that fool
down-stairs and give him the papers you find in my grip. Miss
Killigrew's sapphires, I regret to say, are no more. The mistake I
made in London was in returning the Nana Sahib's ruby."

"There is always one mistake," replied Crawford sternly. He