Naylor had been out at
the time of the call, and Mrs. Naylor had not dared to tell him of the
constable's visit and discomfiture. Department Z. was taking no risks
where James was concerned.

During the whole of breakfast strange sounds had rumbled in Mr.
Naylor's throat, whilst on one occasion, when he happened to catch Mrs.
Naylor's eye, he glared so ferociously at her that she let the lid of
the teapot fall with a crash into a fast-filling cup. With this the
volcano had burst, and the grumbles in Mr. Naylor's larynx matured into
deep-throated oaths and execrations.

Three times he had descended to the basement, from whence his voice
could be heard in passionate protest against any and every thing he
encountered. Mrs. Naylor had gone about the house with the air of one
convinced of disaster. Susan, as usual, succeeded in shuffling out of
the way just as Mr. Naylor appeared.

As the front door banged behind him, Mr. Naylor's scowl lifted as by
magic, giving place to an expression of benignant geniality befitting a
prominent and respected citizen.

Mr. Naylor managed the distance to the Haymarket in the time without
involving a taxi, thus greatly improving his temper. He was a man who
grudged unnecessary expense, and all expense, not directly connected
with the delights of the table, was to his way of thinking unnecessary.

That morning, just as Big Ben was booming out the tenth stroke of noon,
a commotion was observed to take place outside the Pall Mall
Restaurant. Suddenly four men precipitated themselves upon a fifth,
who was walking calmly and peaceably towards Coventry Street. In a
flash he was handcuffed and thrown, somebody called out "Police"; but
before anyone had properly realised what was happening, a motor-car had
drawn up and the handcuffed man was bundled into it, struggling vainly
against the rope with which his legs had been quickly bound. When a
policeman arrived, it was to be told by an excited group of spectators
that a man had been assaulted and kidnapped in broad daylight.

Thus was Mr. Montagu Naylor of Streatham secured and conducted to the
Tower, there eventually to make acquaintance with the miniature
rifle-range.

Whilst Mr. Naylor was rapidly nearing the place of the most remarkable
appointment he had ever kept, James was reduced to a state of frenzy by
several strange men in the adjoining back-gardens. They were,
according to their own account, given to the residents whose h