afe."

"Did it contain valuables?"

"Certainly."

"Diamonds?"

"It contained valuable papers."

"Where is the safe situated?"

"It is concealed, I thought securely, at the back of a bookcase. No one
else holds a key. No one--not even my man--knows of its location.
_Curse_ Severac Bablon! How, in Heaven's name, has he discovered it? I
thought it secure from the fiend himself!"

Detective-Inspector Pepys scratched his chin thoughtfully, and Bernard
Megger seemed to experience some difficulty in meeting the disconcerting
gaze of his eyes.

"Possibly," said the inspector slowly, "an examination of your chambers
may afford a clue. With your permission, Lord Vignoles, we will start at
once."

"Certainly," said Vignoles. "I fear I have no car in readiness, so
someone shall call a cab."

He moved to the bell.

"What's that, Jerry?" came a musical American voice. "Someone want a
lift?"

The three men looked towards the door and saw there Zoe Oppner, a
bewitching picture in her motor-furs.

"I was coming to say good-night," she explained. "I'm off to pick up Pa.
But I've got time to run as far as Brighton and back, say. Nearly half
an hour anyway!"

"You will not be called upon to create that amazing record, Zoe,"
responded Lord Vignoles. "Inspector Pepys and Mr. Megger are merely
proceeding to Victoria Street."

"Is it something exciting?" asked Zoe, her bright eyes glancing from one
to another of the three.

"Very!" replied the inspector. "A robbery at Mr. Megger's chambers!"

"Come right along!" said Zoe. "I'm glad I didn't miss this!" And the odd
trio departed forthwith.

"Can I come in?" she asked, with characteristic disregard of the
conventional, as her luxuriously appointed car pulled up in Victoria
Street.

"I should greatly prefer that you did not, Miss Oppner!" said Pepys
quietly.

"That's unkind! Why mayn't I?"

"I have a reason, believe me. If you will carry out your original plan
and go on to join Mr. Oppner, it will be better."

She met the gaze of his earnest eyes frankly.

"All right!" she agreed. "But will you come to the hotel to-morrow,
Inspector, and tell me all about it?"

"If you will inform no one of the appointment and arrange to be
alone--yes, at eleven o'clock!"

Zoe's big eyes opened widely.

"You are mysterious!" she said; "but I shall expect you at eleven
o'clock!"

"I shall be punctual!"

With that he turned and passed quickly through the door behind Bernard