, but plenty to show that Keller and his pal were running a pretty
hot shop."

"H'm! could you dig anything out of any of the others? There was the
door-keeper."

"No. Tight as oysters, all except those who don't know anything. Ivan
has a fit of the sulks. He's called in Mordix to help him fix up his
defence."

The superintendent was rubbing his chin. "Mordix isn't too scrupulous. I
think we'll hold over the charge of abduction for the time being until
we see how things look. Nobody hurt much, I suppose?"

The saturnine features of the inspector wrinkled into as near a grin as
they were capable of. "Some of them are rather sore, but the doctor
thinks they can all appear in court to-morrow."

Foyle stretched himself and rose. "Right. We won't worry any further
about it for the moment. I'm feeling that the best thing for me is a
good night's rest. You'd better go home and do the same. Good night."

CHAPTER XL

A note came to Sir Ralph Fairfield while he was lingering over his
breakfast, and the first sight of the writing, even before he broke open
the envelope, caused a thrill to run through him.

"You must see me at once," said the well-remembered writing
imperatively. "Urgent, urgent!"

The paper trembled in Fairfield's hands, and it was only the reminder of
the servant that the messenger was waiting that brought him sharply out
of his daze.

"Yes, yes. Show him in. And, Roberts, while I am engaged I don't want to
be disturbed by anybody or anything. Don't forget that."

If Roberts had not been so well trained it was possible that he might
have shown surprise at his master's order. For through the door he held
open there shambled an ungainly figure of a man, hunchbacked, with a
week's growth of beard about his chin, and wearing heavy, patched boots,
corduroys, a shabby jacket and a bright blue muffler. His cap he twisted
nervously in gnarled, dirty hands as he stood waiting just inside the
room till he was certain that the servant had retired out of hearing.

Then, with a swift movement, he locked the door, straightened himself
out, and strode with outstretched hand to where Fairfield stood,
stony-faced and impassive. The baronet deliberately put his hands behind
him, and the other halted suddenly.

"Fairfield!"

Then it was that the impassivity of Sir Ralph vanished. He gripped his
visitor by the arm, almost shaking him in a gust of quick, nervous
passion.

"You fool--you damned fool! Why ha