The Crime Club

o see his difficulties plain before him rather than to be hemmed about with mysteries t

ch the weirdly associated people whom he had met that afternoon played in Melun's gam

urse, explained herself. The young man Crow, with the large, cruel, red hands, was probably Melun's principal striking

allotted to her in the strange drama unfolding

sant to think of. Putting the thing at its best, he coul

tie kept her within the confines of th

ie was connected with Captain Melun. Was she his wife? If he could but establish

decided

ty unfettered he would have gone steadily forward until he had discovered the uttermost of their wrong-doing. He was, however, from the outset

n Alexander armed with a sword who could disperse the problems at one blow. His, indeed, would be the laborious task of unravelling them one by one; nor could

of necessity have a certain number of hardier spirits than those represented by Bagley, Mme. Estelle, or e

d there, indeed, for an unwise length of time, so that at last he drew upon himself the attention of the constable stationed on point duty. Perceiving t

olumns which deal with the doings of Society. Nor was his search unrewarded, for before long he came across a paragraph which set forth that the Prime Min

what extent Melun speaks the truth. For, unless

a note to Melun requesting him t

ut for himself the day before. Much, indeed, to the captain's discomfort, he advanced his theo

g eyes, "it is practically useless for you to dispute my arguments, and if you have any hop

a habit of his to la

e me, you are dangerously quick. It is most unwise for a man to plunge suddenly into an a

resent intrusion. I should leave them alone. Personally, I dislike fuss of

uth and reddened a little. He reddened still mo

is foolish to be nasty to your friends. We all have our little failings. I have mine. You

hink that force will win. Please understand me distinctly that, however rash you may think me, however f

ugged his

ou will have to turn your collar up. Not even the comparati

himself. Events were developing themselves in a sufficiently melodramatic

sharply and bared his tee

spying?" he a

," said West

was suf

ed, for as yet they had not much in common. Each of them, however, from a di

Westerham provided him with a cap, and having pulled their coat collars ab

reet, where Melun descended from the omni

e Commercial Road. Presently a great white tower threw into greater blackness the surrounding black of the murky sky

walked quickly down that curious str

ll, low-built shops which traverse its western side. The light, however, was sufficient to

urveying yet another of the queer little hieroglyphic-ridden shops. But there was a difference, for whereas the others were low built,

, the first three raps being slow, the second three raps b

nwards, while from behind its corner appeared t

pass when he saw Westerham, and

don't suppose that I am fool enough to bring a m

llowed Westerham to squeeze h

e of which had been placed hard against the wall, and held it on

coughing groan and sha

s swiftly as the first. Westerham passed into the room, and with a little thump of his heart realised, with a k

than the front of the house itself. On either side and at both ends there were tiers of bunks. Fr

d door, which admitted them into a small passage. At the end of this a fourth

were playing pool at a dilapidated table, while round about were little groups of men playing domi

that he had his hand on his hip-pocket. And his smile was slightly amused and slightly anxious as one of the pl

revolver which he had whipped

he others, and for a few moments there was what

Westerham had yet heard him use. "All right. D

raight, stood smiling at th

own, and was passively leaning

got up from his seat at the end of the room a

to be a meeti

not an oath. That I already have admini

r," grumbled the man

in a hectoring voice, "it i

you bring him here," mu

pped out Melun, "until I have had my say. I have said this i

, while others quickly set chairs about it; Melun seated himself at

along the row of faces before him. Melun, he reflected, must have

him; they looked at Melu

d it just as well to trust to me. The shares of any

part the men

e I have on hand a bigger deal than any I have yet attempted

Melun must have at stake almost staggered him. He knew well enough that if Melun spoke to th

t get scared. It

ired. Our capital has run low. I have, however, been fortunate in securing the interest of thi

new to our kind of work, only h

t Melun's audacity, flushed a trifle angrily. It was unpleasant to be tarred

nd he asked for an actual demonstration that we were a working concern, and he would not be satisfied until I had proved it to him. I should, of course,

's blood began to run qu

the Prime Minister and Lady Kat

re might be between Downing Street and Limehouse. Melu

Before to-morrow night I have to show this gentleman-whose name,

, turning towards Wester

allowing himself just enough of American drawl

" asked the man w

rham

resented any attempt at conversation; and to prevent a

lun vacated his chair, slipped into his place. They were apparently about to

time had been leaning against the door, lif

little passage, when, as the negro was fumbling a

ore. There was a dreadful note of fear in