Count, jumping down to allow me to take his
place at the steering.

I turned to my captors in wonder.

"Yes, away you go, Ewart," the inspector said, "and good luck to you!"

Without another second's delay, I sprang upon the car, and while the
Count, as he jumped up at my side, shouted good-bye to my captors, I
started away towards Lordship Lane and the open country of Surrey.

"Where shall we go?" I inquired breathlessly, utterly amazed at our
extraordinary escape.

"Straight on through Sydenham, and then I'll tell you. The sooner we're
out of this, the better. We'll run along to Winchester, where I have a
little house at Kingsworthy, just outside the city, and where we can lie
low comfortably for a bit."

"But shan't we be followed by those men?" I asked apprehensively.

"Followed--by them? Oh dear no!" he laughed. "Of course, you don't
understand, Ewart. They all three belong to us. We've played a smartish
game upon the jeweller, haven't we? They had to frighten you, of course,
because it added a real good touch of truth to the scheme. We ought to
be able to slip away across the Channel in a week's time, at latest.
They'll leave to-night--in search of me!" and he laughed lightly to
himself.

"Then they were not detectives?" I exclaimed, utterly staggered by the
marvellous ingenuity of the robbery.

"No more than you are, Ewart," was his reply. "But don't bother your
head about them now. All you've got to look after is your driving. Let's
get across to Winchester as quickly as possible. Just here!--sharp to
the right and the first to the left takes us into the Guildford road.
Then we can move."

CHAPTER II

A SENTIMENTAL SWINDLE

Count Bindo's retreat near Winchester proved to be a small, rather
isolated house near Kingsworthy. It stood in its own grounds, surrounded
by a high wall, and at the rear was a very fair garage, that had been
specially constructed, with inspection-pit and the various appliances.

The house was rather well furnished, but the only servant was a man, who
turned out to be none other than the yellow-haired young fellow who had
been introduced to me at the Cecil as "Mr. Henderson."

He no longer wore the light fancy vest and smartly-cut clothes, but was
in a somewhat shabby suit of black. He smiled grimly as I recognised
him, while his master said--

"Got back all right, Henderson--eh?"

"I arrived only ten minutes ago, sir. All was quiet, wasn't it?"

"Absolutely,"