some distinctly malicious
purpose.

I waited with curiosity. Next day Lola, who with her woman's intuition
had scented that something sinister was intended, expressed surprise
to me that Mr. Lloyd was going to Spain.

We were walking together across the park beyond the lower gardens on
our way to the village.

"Mr. Lloyd told me that he was going to Spain at father's suggestion,"
she said. "It seems to me rather strange that I should have been the
means of bringing father and him together. I can't understand the
reason of it all," she added, evidently much puzzled.

"Perhaps your father has some idea of transacting some lucrative
business with him. Remember, he has a lot of financial interests in
Spain."

"Ah! yes," replied the girl. "Of course. I never thought of that!
Father has been to Madrid several times of late."

I feared to tell her what I suspected of the secret visit of that
handsome Spanish woman, or of how we had been observed at the Unicorn
at Ripon.

On that same day Duperre returned. He had been abroad, for when I met
him at the station I noticed that his luggage bore fresh labels of the
Palace Hotel, at Brussels, and some railway destinations. At ten
o'clock that night, after Lola had retired to bed, I was called to
consult with Rayne and Duperre, who were smoking together in the
billiard-room. Duperre had evidently related to him the result of his
mysterious journeyings, and Rayne seemed in an unusually good humor.

"Sit down, George, and listen," he said. "We have a little piece of
important business to transact--something that will bring in big
money. Duperre will explain."

Vincent turned, and looking at me through the haze of his
cigarette-smoke, said:

"There's not much to explain, George. You have only to act on Rayne's
instructions. The matter does not concern you as, after all, you're
only a pawn in this merry little game which will do no harm to
anyone----"

"Only to old Lloyd," I interrupted.

"To his pocket, perhaps," Duperre laughed.

"Frankly, you mean to rob him, as you have so many others."

Duperre frowned darkly, and exchanged angry glances with Rayne.

"I think that remark is entirely uncalled for," Rayne said
resentfully. "You have thrown in your lot with us, as I have told you
before, and with your eyes wide open have become one of my trusted
assistants. As such you will receive my instructions--and act upon
them without question. That is your position. And now,