immediate neighbours. It seemed an eternity, though in reality it was but a short half hour, before the last curtain fell; and as the strains, of the National Anthem floated on the heated, smoke-laden atmosphere, Ailsa gave a little sigh of mingled dread and relief.
Of Cleek there was no sign when they reached the crowded vestibule, nor of the French Apache with the orchid, though it seemed to Ailsa as if the whole place had been filled with Parisians, all gay, eager, and alert.
Close beside them as they stood on the curb outside stood a ragged, dirty-looking creature, darting . here and there like a hungry sparrow to pick up the few pennies that the occasional calling of a cab earned him. "'Ere y'are, miss, keb, keb!" he said briskly, jostling against Ailsa and with set purpose separating her from Mrs. Hawkesley.
"I don't wish a cab," she responded coldly, "I am with friends. I "
Of a sudden, to her utter consternation, she was borne out into the street by the crush, and she found herself surrounded, not by a mixed crowd of homewardbound theatre-goers, but, men who, despite their evening clothes, were obviously Frenchmen of the "Boul' Miche'."
She turned to go back, but the way was barred. Panic seized her and she tried to call out. Instantly one of the number thrust himself forward, and spoke to her with a leer on his evil face:
"Leave la petite to me, I'll have her. Come quick, before the cracksman discovers her loss " Like a flash a path opened, and she was carried off her feet by the vehemence of the attack, and bundled into a waiting motor which was driven away just as a portly figure turned the corner of Leicester Square at the head of a posse of police.
"Mr. Narkom!" Ailsa managed but one cry before her cloak was twisted over her mouth and her voice dulled to silence. Where in God's name were they taking her? What had happened? Where were Cleek and the Hawkesleys? Surely they would discover her before it was too late! But they did not discover her, and it was not until the motor came sharply to a standstill in Hyde Park that a voice reached her through the folds of the cloak about her face and head.
"It's all right, guv'," said that voice, with comforting familiarity. "Not a bloomin' Apache in sight. Done 'em a fair treat this time. Orl right, Miss Lorne?"
It was Dollops, and, dearer still, Cleek, her erstwhile abductor, behind him, his eyes alight, his face glowing! She gave out a little cry and stretched her hands to him in bewildered abandonment. He caught them in his own.
"I had to let you be frightened, dear one," he said, in a low, tender voice. "There was no other way. They might have guessed otherwise. But I was lucky, for I managed to 'phone to Mr. Narkom, who should just catch Margot, if he's quick, and then appeared in time to whisk you off before the others got you. Dollops" — he threw up the window — "can you drive the car down to Hampton Court?"
Came a low whistle, followed by a chuckle of satisfaction. "Lumme, sir, just you try me," said that worthy promptly. "The houseboat'll be the very thing for us now, and Miss Ailsa, bless 'er 'eart, will be as right as rain with old Mother Condiment. Orl right, sir."
Then with a purr of the engines, the great car was off and away to the old Thames Valley, whizzing along at a splendid pace, while Cleek and Ailsa, within it, entered for the time being into their paradise together.
But Mr. Narkom was unfortunately too late. Margot and her compatriots had vanished like snow beneath the sun, and the Superintendent was left once more to curse his luck upon not being on the scene of action.
And it was not until a few days later that he was actually made aware of Cleek's hiding-place, though, thanks to a hasty message sent to Mrs. Hawkesley, he knew that both his charges were safe. However, upon the third morning after that fateful visit, Mr. Narkom got his letter. He mopped his forehead with a brand-new silk handkerchief, jerked down his cuffs and straightened his tie, as befits the "Yard's gentleman" when in performance of the Yard's duty, and went down and out to where the new limousine, a bright blue affair with trimmings of stone gray, awaited him in the courtyard below. He stepped into it with a sigh of genuine relief.
And Lennard, ever watchful, ever ready, replying to his brisk nod, was off like a shot toward Chelsea, scudding along the Embankment at a mile-a-minute clip. Out across the broad road, and into a network of meaner streets, where a goodly part of the army of the great unwashed dwelt and had their being, sped the car, and some fifteen or twenty minutes later came out into the open country, which was now at its height of summer beauty.
"This will be it, I think, sir," said he at last, slowing down at the curve where the main road threw out a narrow lane leading riverward between two tall, close-clipped privet hedges.
Mr. Narkom unlatched the door.
"Yes, this is as near as we dare go, and I'll wager I shall find him in the garden, so I might as well walk down direct. So drive about a little, Lennard, and be back here in about half an hour."
That Mr. Narkom knew his quarry well was evident, for, after passing a very wilderness of roses, he came to a spot where a dark head moved about among the bushes, and lo! there was Cleek, his sleeves turned up to the elbow, his face flushed with exercise, busy grubbing up weeds and loosening the baked earth around the roses, while Ailsa Lorne reclined in a low chair, watching the operations with lazy approval.
He glanced up at the sound of Mr. Narkom's footsteps on the gravelled path, and smiled ruefully.
"You're on time to the tick, you dear old nuisance," he said, slipping an earth-stained hand into his waistcoat pocket for his watch. "But you can pass the time of day with Miss Lorne while I go and divest myself of some of her landed estate."
He held up his fingers for Mr. Narkom to see, and went off whistling, while the Superintendent, with smiling countenance, did his friend's bidding.
"Glad to get back, weren't you, Miss Lorne?" he said, with an appreciative look round the roselined lawn and flower-filled pergolas that flanked it. "I do wish I did not need to bother him again so soon; but it's duty, you know, and in duty's call "
"One has to obey blindly," she gave back in her soft voice. "And you know he will be only glad to help you. Ah, here he comes! I will beat a retreat, and leave you a clear field of action." And with a nod and a smile for the Superintendent, and something more than a nod and a smile for Cleek, as he came striding toward them, she turned upon her heel and entered the cottage; and they could hear her singing as she went.
But Fate is a strange creature. Much was to pass before she and the man she loved would know again the peace of that garden.
"Now," said Cleek as he and Mr. Narkom joined each other and commenced pacing the pathway, "what's wrong with the world this time? Robbery, suicide, or what?"
"Murder!" threw in Mr. Narkom with a little shudder. "And wholesale and diabolical murder at that. That's why I asked you to let my client come to you here, so as to get to work before another crime is committed. It was good of you to permit me that privilege, old chap."
"H'm! Is it as bad as that?" said Cleek, with a little frown. "Well, let us go to that little summer house there at the end of the path, and you shall tell me the particulars."
A minute's walk brought them to it, set like a bower in the centre of the roses.
"Well, now what, Mr. Narkom? " said Cleek. "Wholesale murder, I believe you said? Gad! that's a nice thing to throw at a law-abiding citizen on such a gorgeous day as this! Well, go ahead. But, first of all, who's the client? Lady or gentleman? You did not say over the 'phone this morning."
Mr.
