It was not until Herrick was well on his way back to the centre of the Town, that he remembered his omission to ask Robin about the typewritten letter. But after all, it did not matter. He knew perfectly well that Joyce had typed it at his father's dictation, and the denial or admission of the little man would make no difference. Things had got past that point.

"I must see Belcher and Kidd," said Herrick to himself, "and learn exactly how Santiago managed the business. Then I'll give Frith a look in. I must find some way of speaking to Frisco. Now that he is driven into a corner, he may tell the truth--that is, if it is not likely to hang him."

When he arrived at the Strand office of the private inquiry firm, he was received by Kidd. Belcher, it appeared, had gone out for the day on business. Kidd was a heavy man with a red face, and a pair of leering grey eyes. Dr. Jim could put up with the ferret but Kidd he detested. However, as Kidd was the only representative of the firm present, he tackled him, and with no light hand, for Jim was in a royal rage at the way he had been tricked by this cunning pair of rascals.

"What is this I hear about the arrest of the man Frisco?" he asked.

"Just this doctor," replied Kidd in his heavy voice but civilly enough "Don Manuel Santiago gave Belcher the tip how Frisco could be trapped, and as me and him wanted to earn the reward, we fixed the matter up."

"Against my wish," retorted Dr. Jim, "did I not say, that you were not to meddle in the matter?"

"And why shouldn't we get the reward if we could sir?"

"I had my own reasons that Frisco should be left at large. You have spoilt a plan of mine, and likely as not have caught the wrong man."

"As to that sir," said Kidd doggedly, "I don't know. But right or wrong we've caught the man and claim the reward."

"It is offered by Mr. Stephen Marsh-Carr," said Herrick coolly, "and the matter is in my hands. It is just as likely as not that I may stop Mr. Marsh-Carr from paying you one penny. You had better have done my business properly Kidd."

"We did do it properly," said Kidd in a surly tone.

"I don't think so. It was my wish that the Mexican should be watched. You have let him leave the country."

"I didn't," protested Kidd, who would have been insolent but that he was afraid of losing the reward, "that was Belcher's game."

"Belcher's price for receiving instructions how to trap Frisco," scoffed Herrick. "Do you think I don't know that Santiago taught the cipher to your damned partner."

"You might be civil Dr. Herrick."

"I shall be what I please. You were engaged by me to do certain business, and you have done it badly. Had I wanted Frisco caught I should have told you. Now just you let me know, how it all came about."

"What about the reward sir?"

"I'll see to that. You fools--to go against me like this. I can do your business considerable damage by telling the way you have tricked me."

"Oh, sir! you won't do that," growled Kidd now thoroughly frightened.

"It all depends upon how you conduct yourself. The harm is done, but I must know how Santiago managed the business."

"It was this way sir," replied the cowed Kidd. "Belcher watched the foreign cove sir, and kept out of sight. But the Don knew him from going to the gambling club."

"Ah! that's another matter I can spoil for you Kidd. I know too much of your shady business for you to play the fool with me. Go on man."

It took Kidd all he knew, to keep his temper under this speech. But he knew that Dr. Herrick would do what he had threatened if he was not implicitly obeyed. Had Jim been a smaller man, Kidd might have tried conclusion with his fists; but he knew Herrick too well, to attempt such folly. Once upon a time Kidd had seen the doctor thrash a larger and much heavier man. From that day, he resolved never to have a fight with a man so versed in the noble art as this high-tempered gentleman.

"Well sir," he continued in a sulky growl, "it was this way. Santiago spotted Belcher, and asked him what he was up to. Belcher would not tell, but in the end, the Don got the truth out of him. Then he said that if Belcher and me could catch Frisco we could get a bigger sum of money, than by watching him. Belcher was always anxious to know what was at the back of all this. When he heard it was the Carr murder case, he saw it was a big thing for him and me. So he said he would let the Don go, if he helped him to catch Frisco. Then the Don showed us the cipher--he wrote it out himself, and put it in the newspaper. Frisco came to the place, and me and Belcher had a detective and a warrant. We caught him easy. He is now in quod sir."

"And Santiago is on the high seas on his way to Mexico. You are a precious pair of scoundrels Kidd. Why did you tell Mr. Joyce that I had managed all this business?"

"It was the Don as asked us to do that sir."

"To make trouble I suppose," said Herrick rising, "you send Belcher to see me at the Guelph hotel this evening. I have something to say to him."

"Take care sir. The ferret ain't an easy man to tackle."

Herrick paused at the door and looked the big man up and down. "Confound your insolence," he said, "do you think you or that rat can stand up against me. I can ruin you both if I choose, and stop your getting that reward. As for Belcher, if he is impudent I'll wring his neck."

"I am sorry we did it sir."

"You may well be," was Herrick's grim reply.

"But I ain't going to be bullied by anyone," said Kidd with sudden anger.

"That is quite enough my man," replied Dr. Jim opening the door and speaking quietly, "if you try that game, you'll get the worst of it."

Kidd looked dangerous for a moment, but after a glance into the eyes of his proposed antagonist he cooled down considerably. He knew perfectly well, that Herrick could smash him. Moreover the calm courage of Herrick quelled his brute passion. Dr. Jim waited for a time, then departed leaving Kidd growling and cursing in impotent rage.

"A dangerous ruffian," thought Herrick as he went into the Strand, "but I think he and Belcher know me too well to play the fool."

For the moment he intended to go back to the Guelph Hotel and see Stephen; but on reflection drove to the solicitors. It was necessary that he should interview Frisco, and Frith would be the man most likely to obtain for him the permission to do so. The lawyer was in, and expressed his pleasure at the capture of Colonel Carr's assassin.

"As to that, I am not certain," said Herrick lightly, "I want to hear what he has to say Frith, and you must get me permission to see the man."

"Don't you think he killed Carr?" asked Frith.

"On the face of it, I do," replied Herrick, "all the same there have been so many surprises in this case that I am prepared for more. Besides, I am rather mad over the business," and he told Frith how he had been tricked by Belcher and his partner.

"Couple of scoundrels," said Frith nodding, "it's not the first dirty trick they have played. Don't you engage them again Dr. Herrick. I'll find men who are more to be trusted."

"I hope to heaven that I won't have occasion to employ any more private detectives. I tell you what Frith, ever since I have engaged in this affair I feel as though I had been bathing in dirty water. But that I promised Mrs. Marsh to protect her son, I should not have done it."

"You seem to have gone pretty exhaustively into the business," said Frith after he had heard the whole story, "for an amateur you have managed remarkably well."

Herrick laughed, "I have made mistakes I admit. But then, as you say, I am only an amateur and not the detective of fiction. He never makes mistakes. I wish he had had this case to deal with. However the thing is nearly at an end, thank goodness."

"It will end with the hanging of Frisco."

"Who knows. He may have some other story to tell."

"You may be sure he will swear that he is innocent," said Frith. "Very likely," responded Herrick, "and the queer thing is Frith that he may really be innocent."

"It looks to me, from what you have told me, as though he were guilty."

"Oh, as to that, I've thought several people guilty and have always found out that I am wrong, when they came to explain. However, I want to see this man and hear what he has to say. Can you manage it?"

"I'll see what I can do. You are at the Guelph Hotel ain't you? Very good. I'll see to it. I might come along and call on Marsh-Carr."

"I should, if I were you," replied Dr. Jim with a laugh, "always be attentive to your clients Frith."

Leaving the solicitor to arrange matters, Herrick went back to the Hotel and dinner with Stephen. He told him all that he had done, and the Squire was much interested. "I hope it is coming to an end though," he said. "I have had about enough of this sort of thing."

"Think of me," said Jim with a shrug.

"Oh, you have behaved like a brick Jim. I do not know how to thank you."

"Bosh my dear chap. There is no question of thanks between you and myself. I promised your mother to see you through, and I intend to keep my word."

"And you won't let me make things right for you," grumbled Stephen.

"Wait till everything is squared up, then we will see. I may ask you to be my banker after all. Well Steve, Santiago has gone away, so you are relieved of at least one of your enemies. Joyce can do nothing without his father, and that gentleman is in gaol."

"Will you want me to go with you to-morrow?"

"No, prefer to see him alone. I'll get more out of him in that way. I wonder what I'll hear this time. However let us think no more of the matter just now. We might take a turn down to see the Earl's Court Exhibition. There's always something going on there. It's not exactly like a theatre Steve or I should not ask you to go. But you must be cheered up somehow. We can't stay in this dismal hotel all the evening talking about a criminal."

Stephen assented, as he always did to whatever Herrick proposed. They went to the exhibition and spent a pleasant evening. When they returned Dr. Jim retired straightway to bed, "I shall have a lot of talking to do to-morrow so I must get as much rest as I possibly can," said he.

In some mysterious way, Frith obtained the required permission, and Herrick found himself introduced into a small cell, where Frisco sat on his bed in a gloomy frame of mind. After exchanging a few words with the warder, Frith got the man to go away leaving Herrick and Frisco alone.

"So you are Dr. Herrick," remarked Frisco calmly, "I am glad to meet you."

He spoke in a rather refined voice, and did not at all look like the truculent ruffian Herrick had expected to meet. He was no longer fat, but had quite a shapely figure. Also his face had lost the redness of incessant drinking. Misfortune had sobered and improved the man. He was plainly dressed in a suit of black serge, which as he afterwards informed Herrick had been supplied by his son. But even if he had been still more changed Dr. Jim would have recognised him from the cries-cross scar on his forehead. Frisco saw him looking at it, and smiled.

"The Colonel's handiwork," said he quietly. "He marked me with a bowie in Los Angelos one drunken evening. But I gave him as good as he gave me Dr. Herrick. He lost a finger." And Frisco fell to whistling at the pleasing recollection. There was no doubt about the man being a scoundrel. Herrick felt his way carefully.

"How did you know me?" he asked abruptly.

Frisco smiled, "I heard the man who came with you, call you by your name. As for the rest, of course Robin has told me all about you. You are a clever man Dr. Herrick, and I think a kind one. If you had not been, you would not have burdened yourself with that miserable rat I h............