sternly at bay by the constables on duty at
the gambling-house pounced on him determinedly. He laughingly waved them
aside, but they would not be denied, and while they walked at his side
gave a succinct account of what had happened, omitting all reference to
Ivan Abramovitch.

"New thing for you to come all the way to the East End to take charge of
a gambling raid, isn't it?" asked Jerrold, the _Wire_ man, in a tone
that told of a shrewd suspicion of something underlying.

"Oh, it's been an experience," said Foyle lightly, indicating his
bandaged head. "I've told you everything I know now, boys. If there's
anything else you can use, I'll have it at the Yard presently. So-long."

The journalists melted away, and Foyle presently found himself in a
dingy back street where the local police station was situated. Here also
a crowd of men and women had gathered, and the reserve men at the door
were repelling eager women who, not knowing who had been taken in the
raid, feared that their husbands might be included and were anxious to
know the worst; for news of that kind spreads rapidly.

A motor-car standing without told the superintendent of Sir Hilary
Thornton's presence. And the Assistant Commissioner was the first person
he saw as he entered the place. Thornton came forward with hand
outstretched.

"Thank God, Foyle! We had a rumour at the Yard that you had been badly
hurt. I see you've been knocked about a bit. What made you take a hand
yourself down here? Couldn't you leave a raid to be carried out by the
local folk?"

"I didn't come down here specially for that reason," smiled the
superintendent. "I wanted to get hold of Ivan Abramovitch, and
everything else was purely incidental."

"They're waiting for you to settle who shall be charged with what," said
Thornton. "Be as quick as you can, and I'll wait and give you a lift
back in the car. I'll not be happy till I've heard all about this."

The two passed into the charge-room, where Penny was in conversation
with the superintendent of the division. In reply to a question, he
thought for a little.

"We've got eighteen men in all, sir," he answered. "It would have been
fifty if we'd been able to bring our coup off at night."

"Very well. Have 'em all in except Abramovitch and Keller. I will pick
out those I want charged with assault, or who I think were mixed up with
Keller. The remainder might be let out on bail after you have verified
their addresses."

Th