hat house in Geneva
Square--by the front, sir, by the front."

"Mrs. Clear, also?" questioned Lucian, wishing to be enlightened on all
points.

"No. She'll come in by the back, down the cellarway, as Wrent expects
her to come. Then he'll follow in the same path and walk right into the
trap."

"But won't the two be seen climbing over that fence in the daytime?"
asked the barrister doubtfully.

"Who said anything about the daytime, Mr. Denzil? I did not, and Wrent
knows too much to risk himself at a time that he can be seen from the
windows of the adjacent houses. No! no! The meeting with Mrs. Clear is
to take place in the front room at ten o'clock, when it will be quite
dark. You, I, and the policemen will hide in what was the bedroom, and
listen to what Wrent has to say to Mrs. Clear. We'll give him rope
enough to hang himself, sir, and then pounce out and nab him."

"Well, he won't show much fight if he is Mr. Vrain."

"I don't believe he is Mr. Vrain," retorted the detective bluntly.

"I am doubtful of that, also," admitted Lucian, "but you know Vrain is
now out of the asylum, and, for the time being, has been left to his own
devices. The reply to the cypher did not appear until he was in that
position. Supposing, after all, this mysterious Wrent proves to be this
unhappy man?"

"In that case, he'll have to pay for his whistle, sir."

"You mean in connection with the conspiracy?"

"Yes, and perhaps with the murder of Clear; but we don't know if the
so-called Wrent committed the crime. For such reason, Mr. Denzil, I wish
to overhear what he says to Mrs. Clear. It is as well to give him enough
rope to hang himself with."

"Can you trust Mrs. Clear?"

"Absolutely. She knows on which side her bread is buttered. Her only
chance of getting free from her share of the matter is to turn Queen's
evidence, and she intends to do so."

"What did she say about Vrain being Wrent?"

"Well, sir," said Link, putting his head on one side, and looking at
Lucian with an odd expression, "you had better wait till the man's
caught before I answer that question. Then, maybe, you won't require an
answer."

"It is very probable I won't," replied Lucian drily. "What time am I to
see you to-night?"

"I'll call for you at nine o'clock sharp, and we'll go across to the
house at once. I have the key in my pocket now. Peacock gave it to me
this morning. The scene will be quite dramatic."

"I hope it won't prove to be Vrain," sa