us the pleasure of your visit. We
are men who are in earnest, and across whose path you have either
wilfully or accidentally strayed. An understanding between us has
become a necessity."

"Go on," Laverick interrupted. "Tell me exactly who you are and
what you want."

"As to who we are," Streuss answered, "does that really matter? I
repeat that we are men who are in earnest--let that be enough. As
to what we want, it is a certain document to which we have every
claim, and which has come into your possession--I flatter you
somewhat, Mr. Laverick, if I say by chance."

Laverick shrugged his shoulders.

"Let that go," he said. "I know all about the document you refer to,
and the notes. They were contained in a pocket-book which it is
perfectly true has come into my possession. Prove your claim to
both and you shall have them."

Streuss smiled.

"You will admit that our claim, since we know of its existence," he
asked suavely, "is equal to yours?"

"Certainly," Laverick answered, "but then I never had any idea of
keeping either the document or the money. That your claim is better
than mine is no guarantee that there is not some one else whose title
is better still."

Streuss frowned.

"Be reasonable, Mr. Laverick," he begged. "We are men of peace--when
peace is possible. The money of which you spoke you can
consider as treasure trove, if you will, but it is our intention
to possess ourselves of the document. It is for that reason that
we are here in London. I, personally, am committed to the extent
of my life and my honor to its recovery."

A declaration of war, courteously veiled but decisive. Laverick
looked around him a little defiantly, and shrugged his shoulders.

"You know very well that I do not carry it about with me," he said.
"The gentleman on my left," he added, pointing to Kahn, "can tell
you where it is kept."

"Quite so," Streuss admitted. "We are not doing you the injustice
to suppose that you would be so foolhardy as to trust yourself
anywhere with that document upon your person. It is in the safe
at the Milan Hotel. I may add that probably, if it had not
occurred to you to change your quarters, it would have been in
our possession before now. We are hoping to persuade you to return
to the hotel with one of our friends here, and procure it."

"As it happens," Laverick remarked, "that is impossible. The man
who set the combination for that particular safe has gone off dut