at she was a friend of
Gunnesbury's, but there was proof that she was in London on the night of
his death. It was a clear case of suicide."

"A year later," Jack went on, "she forced a meeting with Meredith, her
cousin. His father had just died--Jim had come back from Central Africa
to put things in order. He was not a woman's man, and was a grave,
retiring sort of fellow, who had no other interest in life than his
shooting. The story of Meredith you know."

"And is that all?" asked the chief politely.

"All the facts I can gather. There must be other cases which are beyond
the power of the investigator to unearth."

"And what do you expect me to do?"

Jack smiled.

"I don't expect you to do anything," he said frankly. "You are not
exactly supporting my views with enthusiasm."

The chief rose, a signal that the interview was at an end.

"I'd like to help you if you had any real need for help," he said. "But
when you come to me and tell me that Miss Briggerland, a girl whose
innocence shows in her face, is a heartless criminal and murderess, and
a conspirator--why, Mr. Glover, what do you expect me to say?"

"I expect you to give adequate protection to Mrs. Meredith," said Jack
sharply. "I expect you, sir, to remember that I've warned you that Mrs.
Meredith may die one of those accidental deaths in which Mr. and Miss
Briggerland specialise. I'm going to put my warning in black and white,
and if anything happens to Lydia Meredith, there is going to be serious
trouble on the Thames Embankment."

The chief touched a bell, and a constable came in.

"Show Mr. Glover the way out," he said stiffly.

Jack had calmed down considerably by the time he reached the Thames
Embankment, and was inclined to be annoyed with himself for losing his
temper.

He stopped a newsboy, took a paper from his hand, and, hailing a cab,
drove to his office.

There was little in the early edition save the sporting news, but on the
front page a paragraph arrested his eye.

"DANGEROUS LUNATIC AT LARGE."

"The Medical Superintendent at Norwood Asylum reports that Dr.
Algernon John Thun, an inmate of the asylum, escaped last
night, and is believed to be at large in the neighbourhood.
Search parties have been organised, but no trace of the man has
been found. He is known to have homicidal tendencies, a fact
which renders his immediate recapture a very urgent necessity."

There followed a description o