you took a cab----"

Reggie jumped to his feet excitedly.

"No use wasting time here," he said. "Come along, Cora. I'll just
scribble a few lines on one of my cards, so that you can be safe at
Edward Street. There you are. And if I don't get those stones before
bedtime, why I'm a bigger fool than the police take me for."

Thrilling with excitement, Mary followed the others into the street. She
saw the two get into a cab, and she proceeded to take one herself. The
cabman looked at her dubiously as he asked where he was to go to.

"No. 100, Audley Place, Wandsworth Common," Mary said. "If you get there
ten minutes before the cab in front, I'll give you an extra
half-sovereign."

CHAPTER XXVII

Meanwhile the fates were working in another direction. Field had
stumbled, more or less by accident, upon a startling discovery. He had,
it will be remembered, called upon the little actress to whom he had
rendered so signal a service on the night of the theatre panic, and whom
in the heat and confusion of the moment he had failed to recognize, but
now he knew that he was face to face with the lady whom he had seen with
Sartoris at Audley Place.

Field was not often astonished, but he gave full rein to that emotion
now. For he had made more than one discovery at the same time. In the
first place he had found Miss Violet Decie, Sir Charles Darryll's ward,
who proved at the same time to be the actress known as Adela Vane. But
that was a minor discovery compared to the rest. Here was the girl who
at one time had been engaged to Carl Sartoris, and who was supposed to
be connected more or less with his misfortunes.

Here was the girl, too, who might be in a position to supply the key to
the mystery. Undoubtedly, the backbone of the whole thing was the desire
for money. Sir Charles Darryll and his friend Lord Edward Decie had been
engaged in some adventurous speculation together in Burmah. They had
doubtless deemed that speculation to be worthless, but Carl Sartoris had
found that they were mistaken. Therefore, trusting to his changed
appearance and his disguise, he had asked his old sweetheart to call
upon him. The conversation that Field had overheard in the conservatory
was going to be useful.

The curious questioning look in the girl's eyes recalled Field to
himself. He had instantly to make up his mind as to his line of action.
Miss Decie, to give her her proper name, gave the inspector a little
time to decide what