ded of his chief.

Hugo Van Diest shrugged his shoulders.

"He wass a doughty adversary, dis Mr. Torrington," he replied. "Must
egshpect dis sort of ting."

"Guess there's more behind it than that. What are they hoping on,
anyway?"

"Donno--donno."

But the sudden appearance of Sydney Cranbourne did something to
enlighten them.

"Forgive my intrusion, gentlemen," he said, "but could you give me a
possible date on which we might expect the return of our mutual friend?"

Neither Hipps nor Van Diest betrayed the smallest surprise.

"Our mutual friend, Mister Cranbourne?"

"I was referring to a gentleman whose initials are A. B."

"A. B.! Wasn't that the guy who went out to look for a radium field
three weeks ago today?"

"The same," said Cranbourne sweetly. "But we had reason to believe he
changed his plans and accepted another invitation."

"You've been dreaming, dear," said Hipps.

"Perhaps I have, Mr. Hipps. The matter is of no great importance but I
dreamt of the Old Bailey among other things and of three gentlemen,
prominent in financial circles, who were charged with unlawfully
detaining someone against his will and endeavouring to induce him to
confide certain information."

"And then, I suppose," remarked Hipps, "you woke up and knocked over
your cup of early tea."

"Why, no," replied Cranbourne. "I sat up in bed and worked out details
for the flotation of the Radium Company in which I have an interest."

Hipps looked at Van Diest, shook his head and tapped his brow.

"Sure it's the heat," he said. "There ain't going to be any flotation
that I've heard of."

"Think not? It would be a pity if you gentlemen gave way to overmuch
expression of optimism. It hardly accords with your actions of the
last few days."

Van Diest smiled expansively.

"Ver' distressing dis uneven market."

"I imagine you must have found it so."

"Poor Mister Cassis--he was ver' green dis morning."

"Our dear Cassis is a born actor. Well, gentlemen, I won't keep you
any longer except to offer my sympathy that you have found A. B. so
indifferent a confidant. Good day."

And with a polite bow he turned and mingled with the crowd.

"Can't quite get the strength of all that," observed Hipps as he and
Van Diest passed out of the main door, "but one thing sticks out a
mile. We can't hold our prisoner indefinitely. He must be made to
talk right away."

"Dis evening we make the big effort."

"And assumin