he study had been raised a little. If he could give
Beatrice a warning he would do so. Very quietly he pushed back the
swinging baize door and looked in. At the same moment Beatrice was
adjusting her hat before the mirror. Their eyes met and Berrington was
satisfied. He had told Beatrice as plainly as if he had spoken in words,
that he was close by and that she was to look to him for protection if
necessary. That being so, he crept silently away again.

It was a wise precaution, for the front door opened and two people came
in, giving Berrington hardly time to get in the shelter of the
dining-room. He was at no loss to identify the newcomers, for had he not
met them in that very room when he had discovered the gang who were more
or less instrumental in the disappearance of Sir Charles Darryll?

That the precious pair were after no good, needed no saying. Berrington
grimly congratulated himself on the fact that Sartoris had provided him
with a weapon which was in his pocket at the very moment. He would
lounge in the vicinity of the study, and if anything happened, if
Beatrice called out for assistance or anything of that kind, he would be
in a position to render efficient service. It was no part of his game to
show himself to these people without urgent reasons for so doing.

He waited there while Beatrice was confronting the trio; she had made
her discovery, and the others were aware of the fact. Beatrice was
conscious that her heart was beating faster. She looked around for some
avenue of escape. Then her courage rose again as she remembered that
Berrington was close at hand and ready to assist her.

"I will not stay here any longer," the girl said. "It seems to me that I
am in the way. Please to step aside and let me pass. Do you hear me?"

The man called Reggie grinned. He did not make the smallest attempt to
move from the door. He would have touched Beatrice had she not drawn
back.

"I do not desire to detain you," he said. "Only you made a certain
remark just now that calls for an explanation. You mean that this lady
and myself----"

"You know exactly what I mean," Beatrice cried. She was getting angry
now, and the sneering smile on the face of Sartoris did not tend to
soothe her. "Out of your own mouth you have proved what I did not
know--that you are dangerous thieves."

"Oh, indeed. Do you not know that such language is actionable?"

"I know that it is true," Beatrice said coldly. "There are your
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