32 Gerrard."

Laverick frowned, turned over the half sheet of paper and looked
once more at the envelope. Then he passed it on to his companion.

"What do you make of that, Bellamy?" he asked.

Bellamy smiled as he perused and returned it.

"What could any one make of it?" he remarked, laconically. "Do you
know the handwriting?"

"Never saw it before, to my knowledge," Laverick answered. "What
should you do about it?"

"I think," Bellamy suggested, "that I should ring up number 1232
Gerrard."

They crossed the hall and Laverick entered one of the telephone booths.

"1232 Gerrard," he said.

The connection was made almost at once.

"Who are you?" Laverick asked.

"I am speaking for Miss Zoe Leneven," was the reply. "Are you Mr.
Laverick?"

"I am," Laverick answered. "Is Miss Leneveu there? Can she speak
to me herself?"

"She is not here," the voice continued. "She was fetched away in
a hurry from the theatre--we understood by her brother. She left
two and sixpence with the doorkeeper here to ring you up and explain
that she had been summoned to her brother's rooms, 25, Jermyn Street,
and would you kindly go on there."

"Who are you?" Laverick demanded.

There was no reply. Laverick remained speechless, listening
intently. He stood still with the receiver pressed to his ear. Was
it his fancy, or was that really Zoe's protesting voice which he
heard in the background? It was a woman or a child who was
speaking--he was almost sure that it was Zoe.

"Who are you?" he asked fiercely. "Miss Leneveu is there with you.
Why does she not speak for herself?"

"Miss Leneveu is not here," was the answer. "I have done what she
desired. You can please yourself whether you go or not. The address
is 25, Jermyn Street. Ring off."

The connection was gone. Laverick laid down the receiver and
stepped out of the booth.

"I must be off at once," he said to Bellamy. "You'll be round in
the morning?"

Bellamy smiled.

"After all," he remarked, "I have changed my plans. I shall not
leave the hotel. I am going to telephone round to my man to bring
me some clothes. By the bye, do you mind telling me whether this
message which you have just received had anything to do with the
little affair in which we are interested?"

"Not directly," Laverick answered, after a moment's hesitation.
"The message was from a young lady. I have to go and meet her."

"A young lady whom you can trust?" Bellamy inqu