The Crime Club

to and fro on his heels and toes,

t warn you that you are playing

d, more bluntly than before, "that

you mea

g upon yourself a great many things which it is not your business to do-cert

n, sir?" reitera

it down and try to compose yourself, while

ank goodness, with criminal procedure in this country, I am at least aware of this-that the law of England regards every man as innocent until he

oms, which it is my innocent privilege and pleasure to do. You inquire o

nlighten your ignorance to a certain extent. I came here on the introduction of Lord Dunton, who is a most intimate friend. I paid

by cheque. I paid for them all out of hand by bank-note. In fact, you will see for yourself that since I took up

the fact must inevitably have been discovered. No, strange

However, to save you unnecessary labour, I may as well tell you that those notes were paid over to me by Lord Dun

se, at perfect liberty to make every inquiry you please of Lord Du

t that he was not entirely baffled-"of course Lord Dunton may refuse to give any infor

follow you," rem

that your friendship may not be so welcome to Lo

y insolent, Mr. Rook

fication for being rude. Now, although it is true that I cannot ascertain where

ithhold too much information from Mr. Rookley. But, on the other hand, if he revealed his identity his troubles would be greatly increased

ner; "you attended the Premier's reception last night"-he paused that his words

am, "you seem to be re

Rookley, shutting h

foolish, a very ignorant, or a very bad young man to have had the au

, but I will give you the opportunity of discovering it for yourself. I know quite enough of Captain Melun to prevent my pleading ignorance or folly in the cultivation of his acquaintance; on the other h

e, with what was meant to

ou go, however, I am afraid I must add to your troubles. I assure you that I have not the faintest notion who broke into my rooms and who gagged my valet, any more than I ha

ould say of intrinsic value. Suppose that someone had a notion that he would like to recover something you had no right to be possess

o right to be possessed of had gone? Do you think that if some paper or papers which might give someone else a hold over me had been taken I should not also by this time be ac

a more friendly air, "let me ask a straight question. Do

sis, "I do not. I feel certain that

whom you can possibly conceiv

up to a few minutes o

of no one in the world who would have any

, "if it is a mystery to you, you

k you very much for your kind offer, but I will clear the matter up for myself. In the meantime, a

walked into his bedroom

he might, could he advance any theory which satisfied him. It seemed that the best thing he could do was to send for Melun. The captain, he

lock. He had already seen in the evening papers vari

word of which the captain listened with a great attention, here and there putting

lun would say if he asked him point blank

him, Melun laughed quite easi

empt me to repeat the performance. Besides, I am a fairly good judge of my fellow-men, and I have given up all hope of dis

Westerham, "that i

"that it is scarcely worth whil

And now suppose I ask you whether yo

nsible question. I can. What is more, I think

hand in it, after a

in it; but I took no part

in amazement. "What do

was the description of the mysteri

could see through the mask on his face, grey eyes. His hands, as Blyth had good

escription tallies exactly with the gentleman

men most in evidence at Downing Street last night was t

terham, eagerly

ur rooms," sai

an? Why, it is impossible. If he did that it must have been by Lord Penshurst's

find-what he did find, and

terham, to whom things were becoming a l

un, slowly and precisely, "we

hleen's d

gh with intense relish of an infinitel

ing the author of the theft. And therefore Lord Penshurst, knowing that Bagley had m

y roused me from sleep and taxed me with the theft, Lord Penshurst threatening that if I di

at I did not take them but t

rel!" cried

n, whom Westerham had never seen more calm and self-possessed, pushed

o

hat you were a strong man armed-that any attack made on you or your rooms in the small hours would inevitably lead

u scoundrel!" crie

ame with me, but that is not my own view of things. It was necessary to teach you a lesson. In your nice,

said Wester

nd if you reflect a moment you will see, at any rate, that you are at p

d as soon as you left your rooms I

had not taken them

Then I at once communicated with Downing Street. I could not tell them where the diamonds actually were, for that would have given me away, but I knew that Lord Penshurst and

nt in dread of Melun-so great a dread that he even had to confide in his nephew and his private secretary when Melun pressed him too hard. It was evident, too, t

ham reflected that Lady Kathleen must of necessity be acquainted with Lord Penshurst's e

r! No wonder! Oh, the shame of it! This is the hardest part of all-to be s

ld be hung for it, which would unfortunately spoil my chances

but I feel safe in the k

agreement with you here and now. In half an hour I will be in Downing Street and expose the whole thing. Yes, by

is a matter of many men's lives, and one man's life, even y

er, even though you may be,"

but, at the same time, the situation is

Westerham, again laying his ha

g himself free, "but that is my bus

Then she lifted her head wearily, mopped her swollen eyes, an

find the Premier in a scarcely less piti

buried in his hands, though the table was li

nd, placing one of her hands on

ther!" s

ood up and took his daughter in his arms, holding her alm

nd began to speak of the dreadful thing

cautiously about, as though he were fe

nson was entirely wrong. He didn't look like a scoundrel, but he is one. He is not even a scou

hing her father's face, "that, after

t be?" return

thleen, doubtfully, "except that I

sked her

y Kathleen told him of her me

ow what I should have done. I assure you that it is only because I dread the awful consequences that would come if my secret were discovered that has prevented me from tak

of it at all. By George! I wish we were back in the good old days. Then

tched, but he beats our men all the time. He is here to-day and

be even more unscrupulous than Melun. Certainly he is more bold. To my way of thinking

d Kathleen, "I can

glove with Melun comes across you and Bagley in the Park by

is a chance,"

cheek, "I am afraid that you are of a very trusting disposition, th

"Depend on it, he wa

you were? And you say he suggested that h

man to think of his cool cheek. To dr

believe the man's honest. You see, you cut me

st eyed Kath

he asked, with a

moment she felt unaccountably nervous

afternoon? Why did you not tell me? I would

rged Lady Kathleen, "aren't

ord Penshurst, bitterly.

leen outlined her interview w

he was speaking the truth when he said that he was

he Premier, "he is only a gen

"The dear chap has behaved splendidly-did everything I asked him without a murmur, even to the extent of bu

Kathleen, with intense weariness. "Their

ew herself into

ill got a fortnight left in which to get that dreadful secret back. Don't let us give up hope. I wou

can without giving anything away. But already it seems to me-perhaps I only

house party-and the people come to-morrow. Still, it cannot be helped. We have got to go through with it, but after t

at her father th

er," she said. "I real

to my knowledge; but I swear to you that if I have to settle the scoundrel myself