age moved
on and a four-wheeled cab took its place, amid a roar of laughter from
the crowd.

At the same moment three businesslike looking men stepped into the hall,
and before the butler and footmen could stop them they were close up to
the foot of the staircase.

Sir Mark turned upon them angrily, but one of them gripped his arm and
said quickly:

"Sir Mark Jerrold?"

"Yes. What is this intrusion?"

"Upstairs, sir, quick. Stop the young lady from coming down."

The man's manner was so impressive that it forced Sir Mark to act, and
he shouted up the broad staircase:

"Edie! one moment--not yet."

Then, as if resenting the fact that he should have obeyed this man, he
turned sharply in time to hear the words:

"James Dale--in the queen's name. Here is my warrant. No nonsense; we
are three to one."

The bridegroom was struggling in the policemen's arms, and in the hand
which he freed there was a revolver.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

STRATTON'S THANKSGIVING.

There was a slight struggle, the sharp click of steel, and before Sir
Mark could find words to express his rage and astonishment, Barron was
being hurried out of the hall by two of the men who had made the
unceremonious entry, while the two policemen there for another purpose,
in answer to some freemasonry of the force, opened the cab door, and saw
the vehicle driven off.

Sir Mark had meantime made an effort to follow, but the man who had
spoken barred his way.

"You scoundrel! Who are you?" roared the admiral. "What does this
mean?"

"Superintendent Abingdon, Great Scotland Yard, sir," was the quiet
reply. "It means, sir, that I've saved the young lady from a painful
scene, and you from a terrible mishap."

"But, oh, there is some horrible blunder! That is my friend, my
son-in-law, Mr Barron."

"No, sir, an alias. James Dale, whom we have wanted for months. Dodged
us by keeping abroad. Couldn't run him to earth before--stayed on the
Continent; and he was off abroad again, but we were just in time."

"I tell you," thundered Sir Mark, "it is a horrible mistake. Here,
Guest--the carriage: we must follow them at once. Ladies, some of you--
oh, here is my sister. Rebecca, go up to Myra and keep her in her room.
A little mistake; Barron has been called away--a business mistake.
Tell her to be calm. Now, sir," he cried sternly to the officer, "you
do not leave my side. Mr Guest, come with us."

"Where to, Sir Mark?" said the man qui