for burglars. If we
outstepped the law, it would be no excuse for us that we had been acting
in a good cause.'

'True,' said the Prince. 'Nevertheless--' He stopped.

'Nevertheless you have a distaste for bringing the police into the
business.

You want the hunt all to yourself. You are on fire with the ardour of
the chase. Is not that it? Accept the advice of an older man, Prince,
and sleep on this affair. I have little fancy for nocturnal escapades
two nights together. As for you, Nella, off with you to bed. The Prince
and I will have a yarn over such fluids as can be obtained in this
hole.'

'Papa,' she said, 'you are perfectly horrid to-night.'

'Perhaps I am,' he said. 'Decidedly I am very cross with you for coming
over here all alone. It was monstrous. If I didn't happen to be the most
foolish of parents--There! Good-night. It's nine o'clock. The Prince, I
am sure, will excuse you.'

If Nella had not really been very tired Prince Aribert might have
been the witness of a good-natured but stubborn conflict between the
millionaire and his spirited offspring. As it was, Nella departed with
surprising docility, and the two men were left alone.

'Now,' said Racksole suddenly, changing his tone, 'I fancy that after
all I'm your man for a little amateur investigation to-night. And, if I
must speak the exact truth, I think that to sleep on this affair would
be about the very worst thing we could do. But I was anxious to keep
Nella out of harm's way at any rate till to-morrow. She is a very
difficult creature to manage, Prince, and I may warn you,' he laughed
grimly, 'that if we do succeed in doing anything to-night we shall catch
it from her ladyship in the morning. Are you ready to take that risk?'

'I am,' the Prince smiled. 'But Miss Racksole is a young lady of quite
remarkable nerve.'

'She is,' said Racksole drily. 'I wish sometimes she had less.'

'I have the highest admiration for Miss Racksole,' said the Prince, and
he looked Miss Racksole's father full in the face.

'You honour us, Prince,' Racksole observed. 'Let us come to business. Am
I right in assuming that you have a reason for keeping the police out of
this business, if it can possibly be done?'

'Yes,' said the Prince, and his brow clouded. 'I am very much afraid
that my poor nephew has involved himself in some scrape that he would
wish not to be divulged.'

'Then you do not believe that he is the victim of foul play?'

'I do not.'

'A