said the Parson, "I know nothing about it,
unless----" He stopped and frowned. "The Green Rust," he repeated, "is
that old man Heyler's secret?"

"He's in it," said Beale shortly.

"Is it a swindle of some kind?" asked the Parson curiously. "It never
struck me that Heyler was that kind of man."

"There is no swindle in it so far as Heyler's concerned," said Beale,
"it is something bigger than a swindle."

A telephone bell rang and he took up the receiver and listened, only
interjecting a query or two. Then he hung up the instrument.

"It is as I thought," he said: "the doctor's slipped again. Had a car
waiting for him in Oxford Street and when he saw there were no taxi-cabs
about, jumped in and was driven eastward."

"Did you get the number of the car?" asked McNorton.

Beale smiled.

"That's not much use," he said, "he's probably got two or three
number-plates."

He looked at his watch.

"I'll go along to Kingston," he said.

"I shan't be able to come with you," said McNorton, "I have a meeting
with the commissioner at five."

"Before you go," remarked Beale, "you might put your signature to this
declaration of my _bona fides_."

He laid on the table a blue foolscap blank.

"What's this?" asked the surprised McNorton, "an application for a
special licence--are you going to be married?"

"I hope so," said the other cautiously.

"You don't seem very cheerful about it. I presume you want me to testify
to the urgency of the case. I am probably perjuring myself." He signed
his name with a flourish. "When are you getting the licence and what's
the hurry?"

"I am getting the licence to-morrow," said Beale.

"And the lady's name is----?"

"I thought you had noticed it," smiled the other, deftly blotting and
folding the form.

"Not Miss Cresswell?" demanded the police chief in surprise.

"Miss Cresswell it is."

"But I thought----"

"There are circumstances which may be brought to your official notice,
McNorton," said the detective, "for the present it is necessary to keep
my plan a secret."

"Has it anything to do with the Green Rust?" asked the other jokingly.

"A great deal to do with the Green Rust."

"Well, I'll get along," said McNorton. "I will telephone the Kingston
police to give you all the assistance possible, but I am afraid you will
learn nothing from the tramp till the morning, and perhaps not then."

He took his leave soon after.

"Now, Homo, it is up to you and me," said Be