man whom, as I guessed, he had been drugging with strong waters for an hour past in some secluded chamber of the house. The fellow was somnolent, and in sepulchral silence we jou

ly of six dependent on him, and think this must ex

the police sergeant, unlocking the cell a

eceding chin, a black eye, a crumpled shirt-front smeared with blo

, to bail you out," a

red the prisoner in hollow

Richardson

ls? Al' ri', old man;

objection, I've co

want t'other Richardson, good

ssi

hardson-take him away! Don't blame you: common name. Richardson I want has whiskers down to here, tiddy-

listen to this; I'm Richardson,

can't do it. One man lead a horse to the water-t

. "You'll let me deal wit

, sir, we're used to i

you drunken little hog, stand up and walk," said

suddenly left him weak,

gan to whimper. "But if the worst comes t

ab, in a corner of which the trembling Horrex had already huddled hims

d the poor man soothingly. "It's only poor

name is Horrex? Then allow me to tell you, Horrex, that you are no gentleman. You hear?" He sp

" assente

call me early-there's many a black, black eye, Horrex, but none so black as mine. Call me at elev

mp I saw his head drop forward, and

arriages waiting in the Cromwell Road for the departing guests, the cab should take us round to the gardens at the back. I carried on my chain a key which would admit

r, I could almost say you ha

ion," said I grimly, "be

agedy that I blessed our luck for protecting us from the casual intrusive policeman. Our entrance by the kitchen passage, however, was not so fortunate. Stealthily as we trod, our footsteps reached the ears in the

ied him to the servants' hall and laid him in an armchair, to rest our arms, w

ll jangled furiousl

urned a scared face u

matter in

ear, a minute later, with

you'll follow me. William, run out and see

night?" answered Willia

t with pathetic dignity. "If there's miracles indo

knocked softly, opened it, an

stress, confronting

nd held herself erect with her finger-tips pressed hard into the leather, I saw th

eaning of thi

rom Marlborough S

pened it, and, as I expected,

, and he sped. "And now, Miss Joy, if you please, the co

bail," answere

am

nthony Ri

I mean the pri

ardson, four-nought-two, Cromwell Road'-that's the

nd I wondered what dreadful thing could have happened-until

n and taking the tray from Horrex, "that

a rebellious face. "Oh, if

o the constable, "what name

rmayne, sam

ho nodded back, pausing as she lifted her

ten

ep. Drunk and diso

avid Garrick: but he settled down quiet at the station, and when I left he was talking re

st shouted, wheeli

your

doorway-"the cab outside? Step along, constable: I'll follow in a moment-to identify your prisoner, not to bail him out." Then

doubtfully; "but it seems a

her. "The man at Marlborough Street

t through

man at Marlborough Street is the m

'-and you didn't write Larks in Aspic?" said she, wi

yes,

recating hands. "You don't mean to tell me that this is your house, and w

u'll admit, on reflection, that

"I'll go upstairs and pa

rget that your brother is downstairs: and by his lo

row. "I was forgetting. Then you a

coundrel of a butler-has been making up to him under my name. They met at the house-agent's, probably. The r

of you until Herbert announced t

troubled eyes. "It would be inter

mmiest thing in platers he'd struck for a long whil

ely: whereupon our eyes

think how we have treated you-if only I could

on," said I. "But we'll dis

he attempted to laugh, but te

id I; and, picking up my