ent a man can
make on this earth has been made, if then--in that time--I come to you
and ask for that reward, do you think--ah! do you think that you can
find it in your heart to give it?"

She lifted up her eyes, the eyes that had saved him, that had lit the
way back, that would light it ever to the end of life and, stretching
out her hand, put it into his.

"When that day dawns, come and see," she said, and smiled at him through
happy tears.

"I will," he made answer. "Wait and I will. Oh, God, what a good, good
thing a real woman is!"

CHAPTER XII

THE RIDDLE OF THE RAINBOW PEARL

"Note for you, sir, messenger just fetched it. Addressed to 'Captain
Burbage,' so it'll be from the Yard," said Dollops, coming into the room
with a doughnut in one hand and a square envelope in the other.

Cleek, who had been sitting at his writing-table with a litter of folded
documents, bits of antique jewellery, and what looked like odds and ends
of faded ribbon lying before him, swept the whole collection into the
table drawer as Dollops spoke and stretched forth his hand for the
letter.

It was one of Narkom's characteristic communications, albeit somewhat
shorter than those communications usually were, a fact which told Cleek
at once that the matter was one of immense importance. It ran:

MY DEAR CLEEK:

For the love of goodness don't let anything tempt you into
going out to-night. I shall call about ten. Foreign government
affair--reward simply enormous. Watch out for me.

Yours, in hot haste.

MAVERICK NARKOM.

"Be on the look-out for the red limousine," said Cleek, glancing over at
Dollops, who stood waiting for orders. "It will be along at ten. That's
all. You may go."

"Right you are, guv'ner. I'll keep my eyes peeled, sir. Lor'! I do hope
it's summink to do with a restaurant or a cookshop this time. I could do
with a job of that sort, my word, yes! I'm fair famishin'. And, beggin'
pardon, but you don't look none too healthy yourself this evening,
guv'ner. Ain't et summink wot's disagreed with you, have you, sir?"

"I? What nonsense! I'm as fit as a fiddle. What could make you think
otherwise?"

"Oh, I dunno, sir--only---- Well, if you don't mind my sayin' of it,
sir, whenever you gets to unlocking of that drawer and lookin' at them
things you keep in there--wotever they is--you always gets a sort of
solemnchol