arrangement would ensure,
I believe, a benevolent neutrality, but an alliance, if only it could be
compassed, would be the greatest diplomatic triumph of our days. Hullo!
Visitors at this hour. Wasn't that your front-door bell, Duncombe?"

"It sounded like it," Duncombe answered. "Perhaps it is your man."

"Like his cheek, if it is!" Lord Runton answered, rising to his feet and
strolling towards the sideboard. "I told him I would telephone round to
the stables when I was ready. I suppose it is rather late, though I
sha'n't apologize for keeping you up."

"I hope you won't," Duncombe answered. "I have never been more
interested in my life--for many reasons. Don't bother about your man.
Groves will see to him. Help yourself to another whisky and soda, and
come and sit down."

There was a knock at the door, and the butler appeared.

"There are three gentlemen outside, sir, who wish to see you," he
announced to Duncombe. "They will not give their names, but they say
that their business is important, or they would not have troubled you so
late."

Duncombe glanced at the clock. It was past midnight.

"Three gentlemen," he repeated, "at this time of night. But where on
earth have they come from, Groves?"

"They did not say, sir," the man answered. "One of them I should judge
to be a foreigner. They have a motor car outside."

Lord Runton held out his hand.

"Well, it's time I was off, anyhow," he remarked. "Come over and have
lunch to-morrow. Don't bother about me. I'll stroll round to the stables
and start from there. Good night."

Duncombe hesitated. He was on the point of asking his friend to stay,
but before he could make up his mind Runton had lit a cigarette and
strolled away.

"You can show the gentlemen in here, Groves," Duncombe said.

"Very good, sir."

The man disappeared. Duncombe, after a moment's hesitation, crossed the
room, and opening an oak cupboard, slipped a small revolver into his
pocket.

CHAPTER IX

ARRESTED!

One of his three visitors Duncombe recognized immediately. It was
Monsieur Louis. Of the other two one was a Frenchman, a somewhat
sombre-looking person, in a black beard and gold-rimmed eyeglasses, the
other as unmistakably an Englishman of the lower middle class. His broad
shoulders and somewhat stiff bearing seemed to suggest some sort of
drill. Looking them over, Duncombe found himself instinctively wondering
whether the personal strength of these two, which was o