! What does it all mean, my dear! Gad!--this is--to use
the common language of the common man, a fair licker! That that chap
Burchill should march as bold as brass into those Herapath Flats,
is--well, I couldn't be more surprised, Trixie, than if you were to tell
me that you are the Queen of Sheba's grand-daughter! Not so much so, in
fact. You see----"

But at that moment a taxi-cab came speeding round the corner, and from
it presently emerged Carver and Davidge. The detective, phlegmatic,
quiet as ever, nodded familiarly to Triffitt and lifted his hat to
Trixie.

"Evening, Mr. Triffitt," he said quietly.

"He's in there!" exclaimed Triffitt, grabbing Davidge's arm and pointing
wildly to the brilliantly lighted entrance, wherein two or three
uniformed servants lounged about to open doors and attend to elevators.
"Walked in as if the whole place belonged to him! You know--Burchill!"

"Ah, just so!" responded Davidge unconcernedly. "Quite so--I wouldn't
name no names in the street if I were you, Mr. Triffitt. Ah!--to be
sure, now. Well, of course, he would have to go in somewhere, wouldn't
he?--as well here as anywhere, perhaps. Yes. Now, if this young lady
would join the other young lady in the cab, Mr. Carver'll escort 'em
home, and then he can come back here if he likes--we might have a bit of
a job for him. And when the ladies retire, you and me can do our bit of
business, d'ye see, Mr. Triffitt. What?"

Trixie, urged towards the cab, showed signs of uneasiness.

"Promise me you won't get shot, or poisoned, or anything, Herbert!" she
entreated. "If you do----"

"We aren't going in for any shooting tonight, miss," said Davidge
gravely. "Some other night, perhaps. All quiet and serene tonight--just
a little family gathering, as it were--all pleasant!"

"But that dreadful man!" exclaimed Trixie, pointing to the door of the
flats. "Supposing----"

"Ah, but we won't suppose," answered Davidge. "He's all right, he is.
Mild as milk we shall find him--my word on it, miss. Now," he continued,
when he had gently but firmly assisted Trixie into the cab, said a word
or two to Carver, taken Triffitt's arm, and led him across the street,
"now we'll talk a bit, quietly. So he's gone in there, has he, Mr.
Triffitt? Just so. Alone, now?"

"Quite alone," replied Triffitt. "What's it all about--what does it
mean? You seem remarkably cool about it!"

"I shouldn't be much use in my trade if I didn't keep cool, Mr.
Triffitt,"