om with the utmost composure.

"My dear fellow, I _have_ had a chase!" said the superintendent, with a
long deep breath of relief, as the limousine swung out into the roadway,
and pelted off westward at a pace that brushed the very fringes of the
speed limit. "I made certain I should find you at home. Fairly floored
when I discovered that you weren't. If it hadn't been for that boy,
Dollops--bright young button, that Dollops, Cleek; exceedingly bright,
b'gad."

"Yes," agreed Cleek, quietly. "Bright, faithful, and--inventive."

"Really? What has the young beggar invented, then?"

"An original appliance which may possibly be of a good deal of service
one of these days. But, never mind that at present. It is fair to
suppose, from your rushing out here in quest of me, that you've got
something on hand, isn't it?"

"Yes--rather! An amazing 'something,' old chap. It's a letter. Arrived at
headquarters about an hour and a half ago. Not an affair for The Yard
this time, Cleek, but a thing you must take up on your own, if you take
it up at all; and I tell you frankly, I don't like it."

"Why?"

"For one thing, it's from Paris; and--well, you know what dangers Paris
would have for _you_. There's that she-devil you broke with--that woman
Margot. You know what she swore, what she wrote when you sent her that
letter telling her that you were done with her and her lot, and warning
her never to set foot on English soil again? If you were to run foul of
her--if she were ever to get any hint of your real identity--"

"She can't. She knows no more of my real history than you do; no more
than I actually know of hers. Our knowledge of each other began when we
started to 'pal' together--it ended when we split, eighteen months ago.
But about that letter? What is it? Why do you say that you don't like
it?"

"Well, to begin with, I'm afraid it is some trap of hers to decoy you
over there--get you into some unknown place--"

"There are no 'unknown places' in Paris so far as I am concerned.
I know every hole and corner of it, from the sewers on. I know it
as well as I know London, as well as I know Berlin--New
York--Vienna--Edinburgh--Rome. You couldn't lose me or trap me in any
one of them. Is that the letter in your hand? Good--then read it,
please."

"To the Superintendent of Police, Scotland Yard," read Narkom, obeying
the request.

"'DISTINGUISHED MONSIEUR:

"'Of your grace and pity, I implore you to listen to the prayer of