ver, save for a writer in the
_Gleaner_, who seems to share it."

CHAPTER X

KIMBERLEY

Dessert was being placed upon the table when Bernard Megger went out to
the telephone, and a fairly general conversation upon the all-absorbing
topic had sprung up when he returned--pale, flabby--a stricken man!

"Vignoles!" he said hoarsely. "A word with you."

The host, who did not care for the society of Mr. Megger, rose in some
surprise and stepped aside with his wife's guest.

"I am a ruined man!" said Megger. "My chambers have been entered and my
safe rifled!"

"But----" began Vignoles, in bewilderment.

"You do not understand!" snapped the other, "and I cannot explain. It is
Severac Bablon who has robbed me!"

"Severac Bablon?"

"Yes! I must be off at once and learn exactly what has happened. I shall
call at Scotland Yard----"

"_Ssh!_" whispered Vignoles. "There is no need for that! The man
speaking to Miss Oppner there is Detective-Inspector Pepys!"

"Detective-Inspector Pepys! But what----"

"Never mind now, Megger; he is--that's the point. I'll bring him into
the billiard-room. No doubt he can arrange to accompany you."

Too perturbed in mind to wonder greatly at the presence of a police
officer at Lord Vignoles' dinner-table, Bernard Megger strode hurriedly
into the billiard-room, his obese body quivering with his suppressed
emotions, and was almost immediately joined by his host, accompanied by
Pepys. The latter began at once:

"I understand that your chambers have been burgled by Severac Bablon? By
a curious instance of what literary critics term the long arm of
coincidence I am in charge of the Severac Bablon case--I and Inspector
Sheffield."

"Before we go any further," said Megger rudely, "I don't share your
tomfool ideas about the rogue!"

"No?" replied Pepys blandly. "Well, never mind. You must not suppose
that, because of them, I am any less anxious to apprehend my man. Tell
me, when was the burglary committed?"

"While Simons, my servant, was out on an errand. He returned to find the
safe open--and empty. He immediately rang me up here."

"I believe you have already communicated with Scotland Yard in regard to
Severac Bablon?"

"Yes, I have. He has threatened me."

"In what form?"

"He endeavoured to extort money."

"By what means?"

Bernard Megger frowned, angrily. His flabby cheeks were twitching
significantly.

"The point is," he said sharply, "that he has rifled my s