ams and buses. A hundred human comedies and tragedies were to
be witnessed upon the highways; but to all of them Kerry was blind as
he was deaf to the din of workaday Babylon. In spirit he was roaming
the bank of old Father Thames where the river sweeps eastward below
Limehouse Causeway--wonder-stricken before the magic of the one-eyed
wizard who could at will efface himself as an artist rubs out a drawing,
who could camouflage a drug warehouse so successfully that human skill,
however closely addressed to the task, failed utterly to detect its
whereabouts. Above the discord of the busy streets he heard again and
again that cry in the night which had come from a hapless prisoner whom
they were powerless to succor. He beat his cane upon the floor of the
cab and swore savagely and loudly. The intimidated cabman, believing
these demonstrations designed to urge him to a greater speed, performed
feats of driving calculated to jeopardize his license. But still the
savage passenger stamped and cursed, so that the cabby began to believe
that a madman was seated behind him.

At the corner of Kennington Oval Kerry was effectually aroused to the
realities. A little runabout car passed his cab, coming from a southerly
direction. Proceeding at a rapid speed it was lost in the traffic ahead.
Unconsciously Kerry had glanced at the occupants and had recognized
Margaret Halley and Seton Pasha. The old spirit of rivalry between
himself and the man from Whitehall leapt up hotly within Kerry's breast.

"Now where the hell has he been!" he muttered.

As a matter of fact, Seton Pasha, acting upon a suggestion of Margaret's
had been to Brixton Prison to interview Juan Mareno who lay there under
arrest. Contents bills announcing this arrest as the latest public
development in the Bond Street murder case were to be seen upon every
newstand; yet the problem of that which had brought Seton to the south
of London was one with which Kerry grappled in vain. He had parted
from the Home office agent in the early hours of the morning, and their
parting had been one of mutual despair which neither had sought to
disguise.

It was a coincidence which a student of human nature might have regarded
as significant, that whereas Kerry had taken his troubles home to his
wife, Seton Pasha had sought inspiration from Margaret Halley; and
whereas the guidance of Mary Kerry had led the Chief Inspector to hurry
in quest of Rita Irvin's spaniel, the result of Seto