t hand over to his superiors a complete case
against the syndicate, he also saw that considerable kudos was still
possible if he supplied information which would enable their detectives
to establish one. And every day he delayed increased the chance of
someone else finding the key to the riddle, and thus robbing him of
his reward. Merriman realized the position, and he therefore fully
appreciated the sacrifice Hilliard was risking when after a long
discussion that young man gave his consent.

Two days later Hilliard was back at his office, while Merriman, after an
argument with his partner not far removed from a complete break, was on
his way once more to the south of France.

CHAPTER 10. MERRIMAN BECOMES DESPERATE

The failure of the attempt to learn the secret of the Pit-Prop Syndicate
affected Merriman more than he could have believed possible.
His interest in the affair was not that of Hilliard. Neither the
intellectual joy of solving a difficult problem for its own sake, nor
the kudos which such a solution might bring, made much appeal to him.
His concern was simply the happiness of the girl he loved, and though,
to do him justice, he did not think overmuch of himself, he recognized
that any barrier raised between them was the end for him of all that
made life endurable.

As he lay back with closed eyes in the corner seat of a first-class
compartment in the boat train from Calais he went over for the
thousandth time the details of the problem as it affected himself. Had
Mr. Coburn rendered himself liable to arrest or even to penal servitude,
and did his daughter know it? The anxious, troubled look which Merriman
had on different occasions surprised on the girl's expressive face made
him fear both these possibilities. But if they were true did it stop
there? Was her disquietude due merely to knowledge of her father's
danger, or was she herself in peril also? Merriman wondered could she
have such knowledge and not be in peril herself. In the eyes of the law
would it not be a guilty knowledge? Could she not be convicted as an
accessory?

If it were so he must act at once if he were to save her. But how?
He writhed under the terrible feeling of impotence produced by his
ignorance of the syndicate's real business. If he were to help Madeleine
he must know what the conspirators were doing.

And he had failed to learn. He had failed, and Hilliard had failed, and
neither they nor Leatham had been able to sugge