in
on her bicycle to Odford, where she posted a packet in a pillar-box
situated in a street that was apparently quite empty."

"And you secured it?" enquired Mr. Lewellyn John, leaning forward
eagerly.

"I'm afraid I quite spoilt the local postmaster's Sunday by
requesting that a pillar-box should be specially cleared, and
producing an authority from the Postmaster-general. After he had
telegraphed to head-quarters and received a reply confirming the
letter, he reluctantly acquiesced."

"And it was addressed to this man Cressit?" enquired Sir Lyster.

"Yes. He is a temporary staff-clerk in the Plans Department.
Incidentally he is something of a Don Juan, and the cost of living
has increased considerably, as you know, sir," he added, turning to
the Prime Minister.

Mr. Llewellyn John smiled wanly. It was his political "cross," this
cost-of-living problem.

"And what shall we do with him?" enquired Sir Lyster. "The
scoundrel," he added.

"I have almost done with him as a matter of fact," said Malcolm Sage.

"Done with him?" exclaimed Lord Beamdale.

"I sent him a telegram in Miss Blair's name to be at Odford Station
to-night at seven: then I kidnapped him."

"Good heavens, Sage I What do you mean?" cried Mr. Llewellyn John,
with visions of the Habeas Corpus Act and possible questions in the
House, which he hated.

"We managed to get him to enter my car, and then we went through
him--that is a phrase from the crook-world. We found upon him the
marriage certificate, and later I induced him to confess. I am now
going to take him back to my office, secure his finger-prints and
physical measurements, which will be of interest at Scotland Yard."

"But we are not going to prosecute," said Mr. Llewellyn John
anxiously.

"Mr. Paul Cressit will have forty-eight hours in which to leave the
country," said Malcolm Sage evenly. "He will not return, because
Scotland Yard will see that he does not do so. There will probably
be an application to you, sir," Malcolm Sage continued, turning to
Mr. Llewellyn John, "to confirm what I tell them."

"Excellent!" cried Mr. Llewellyn John. "I congratulate you, Sage.
You have done wonders."

"But I failed to understand your saying that you would be here this
morning," said Sir Lyster, "and under an assumed name with----"

"A foreign accent," suggested Malcolm Sage. "The thief might have
been an old hand at the game, and too clever to fall into a rather
obvious trap. In that ca