"IF you would care to come in, sir, I'm sure Lexman would be gladto see you," said T. X.; "it's very kind of you to take aninterest in the matter."The Chief Commissioner of Police growled something about beingpaid to take an interest in everybody and strolled with T. X. downone of the apparently endless corridors of Scotland Yard.

　　"You won't have any bother about the pardon," he said. "I wasdining to-night with old man Bartholomew and he will fix that upin the morning.""There will be no necessity to detain Lexman in custody?" asked T.

　　X.

　　The Chief shook his head.

　　"None whatever," he said.

　　There was a pause, then,"By the way, did Bartholomew mention Belinda Mary!"The white-haired chief looked round in astonishment.

　　"And who the devil is Belinda Mary?" he asked.

　　T. X. went red.

　　"Belinda Mary," he said a little quickly, "is Bartholomew'sdaughter.""By Jove," said the Commissioner, "now you mention it, he did -she is still in France.""Oh, is she?" said T. X. innocently, and in his heart of hearts hewished most fervently that she was. They came to the room whichMansus occupied and found that admirable man waiting.

　　Wherever policemen meet, their conversation naturally drifts to"shop" and in two minutes the three were discussing with someanimation and much difference of opinion, as far as T. X. wasconcerned, a series of frauds which had been perpetrated in theMidlands, and which have nothing to do with this story.

　　"Your friend is late," said the Chief Commissioner.

　　"There he is," cried T. X., springing up. He heard a familiarfootstep on the flagged corridor, and sprung out of the room tomeet the newcomer.

　　For a moment he stood wringing the hand of this grave man, hisheart too full for words.

　　"My dear chap!" he said at last, "you don't know how glad I am tosee you."John Lexman said nothing, then,"I am sorry to bring you into this business, T. X.," he saidquietly.

　　"Nonsense," said the other, "come in and see the Chief."He took John by the arm and led him into the Superintendent'sroom.

　　There was a change in John Lexman. A subtle shifting of balancewhich was not readily discoverable. His face was older, themobile mouth a little more grimly set, the eyes more deeply lined.

　　He was in evening dress and looked, as T. X. thought, a typical,clean, English gentleman, such an one as any self-respecting valetwould be proud to say he had "turned out."T. X. looking at him carefully could see no great change, savethat down one side of his smooth shaven cheek ran the scar of anold wound; which could not have been much more than superficial.

　　"I must apologize for this kit," said John, taking off hisovercoat and laying it across the back of a chair, "but the factis I was so bored this evening that I had to do something to passthe time away, so I dressed and went to the theatre - and was morebored than ever."T. X. noticed that he did not smile and that when he spoke it wasslowly and carefully, as though he were weighing the value ofevery word.

　　"Now," he went on, "I have come to deliver myself into yourhands.""I suppose you have not seen Kara?" said T. X.

　　"I have no desire to see Kara," was the short reply.

　　"Well, Mr. Lexman," broke in the Chief, "I don't think you aregoing to have any difficulty about your escape. By the way, Isuppose it was by aeroplane?"Lexman nodded.

　　"And you had an assistant?"Again Lexman nodded.

　　"Unless you press me I would rather not discuss the matter forsome little time, Sir George," he said, "there is much that willhappen before the full story of my escape is made known."Sir George nodded.

　　"We will leave it at that," he said cheerily, "and now I hope youhave come back to delight us all with one of your wonderfulplots.""For the time being I have done with wonderful plots," said JohnLexman in that even, deliberate tone of his. "I hope to leaveLondon next week for New York and take up such of the threads oflife as remain. The greater thread has gone."The Chief Commissioner understood.

　　The silence which followed was broken by the loud and insistentringing of the telephone bell.

　　"Hullo," said Mansus rising quickly; "that's Kara's bell"With two quick strides he was at the telephone and lifted down thereceiver.

　　"Hullo," he cried. ............