y,
and will not be back again at the hotel till to-morrow morning."

"But he is to be found," Streuss answered easily. "His present
whereabouts and his address are known to us. He lives with his
family at Harvard Court, Hampstead. We shall assist you in making
it worth his while to return to the hotel or to give you the
combination word for the safe."

"You are rather great on detail!" Laverick exclaimed.

"It is our business. The question for you to decide, and to decide
immediately, is whether you are ready to end this, in some respects,
constrained situation, and give your word to place that document in
our hands."

"You are ready to accept my word, then?" Laverick asked.

"We have a certain hold upon you," Streuss continued slowly. "Your
partner Mr. Morrison's position in connection with the murder in
Crooked Friars' Alley is, as you may have surmised, a somewhat
unfortunate one. Your own I will not allude to. I will simply
suggest that for both your sakes publicity--any measure of
publicity, in fact, as regards this little affair--would not be
desirable."

Laverick hesitated. He understood all that was implied. Morrison's
eyes were fixed upon him--the eyes of a craven coward. He felt the
intensity of the moment. Then Zoe turned suddenly towards him.

"You are not to give it up!" she cried, with trembling lips. "They
cannot hurt you, and it is not true--about Arthur."

Kahn, who was nearest, clapped his hand over her mouth and Laverick
knocked him down. Instantly the pacific atmosphere of the room was
changed. Lassen and Morrison closed swiftly upon Laverick from
different sides. Streuss covered him with the shining barrel of a
revolver.

"Mr. Laverick," he said, "we are not here to be trifled with. Keep
your sister quiet, Morrison, or, by God, you'll swing!"

Laverick looked at the revolver--fascinated, for an instant, by
its unexpected appearance. The face of the man who held it had
changed. There was lightning playing about the room.

"It's the dock for you both!" Streuss exclaimed fiercely,--"for
you, Laverick, and you, Morrison, too, if you play with us any
longer! One of you's a murderer and the other receives the booty.
Who are you to have scruples--criminals, both of you? Your place
is in the dock, and you shall be there within twenty-four hours if
there are any more evasions. Now, Laverick, will you fetch that
document? It is your last chance."

Upon the breathless sil