tter of her and impelled her to wait to discover the object of
this unexpected visitation.

"How did you know where I was working?" she asked, as the thought
occurred to her.

He laughed.

"It was a very simple matter. I was on my way to a patient and I saw you
coming out to lunch," he said, "and as I found myself in the
neighbourhood an hour ago I thought I would wait and take you home. You
are doing a very foolish thing," he added.

"What do you mean-in stopping to talk to you when I ought to be on my
way home to tea?"

"No, in engaging yourself to a man like Beale. You know the reputation
he has! My dear girl, I was shocked when I discovered who your employer
was."

"I don't think you need distress yourself on my account, doctor," she
said quietly. "Really, Mr. Beale is quite pleasant--in his lucid
moments," she smiled to herself.

She was not being disloyal to her employer. If he chose to encourage
suspicion in his mode of life he must abide by the consequences.

"But a drunkard, faugh!" The exquisite doctor shivered. "I have always
tried to be a friend of yours, Miss Cresswell, and I hope you are going
to let me continue to be, and my advice to you in that capacity is--give
Mr. Beale notice."

"How absurd you are!" she laughed. "There is no reason in the world why
I should do anything of the sort. Mr. Beale has treated me with the
greatest consideration."

"What is he, by the way?" asked the doctor.

"He's an agent of some sort," said the girl, "but I am sure you don't
want me to discuss his business. And now I must go, doctor, if you will
excuse me."

"One moment," he begged. "I have a cab here. Won't you come and have
tea somewhere?"

"Where is somewhere?" she asked.

"The Grand Alliance?" he suggested.

She nodded slowly.

CHAPTER VIII

THE CRIME OF THE GRAND ALLIANCE

The hotel and the cafe of the Grand Alliance was London's newest
rendezvous. Its great palm-court was crowded at the tea-hour and if, as
the mysterious Mr. Beale had hinted, any danger was to be apprehended
from Dr. van Heerden, it could not come to her in that most open of
public places.

She had no fear, but that eighth sense of armed caution, which is the
possession of every girl who has to work for her living and is conscious
of the perils which await her on every side, reviewed with lightning
speed all the possibilities and gave her the passport of approval.

It was later than she had thought. Only a few t