abroad, of course posing to the telegraph clerk as a passing
railway passenger. Rayne never sent important telegrams from the
village post-office at Overstow, or even from Thirsk. They were all
dispatched from places where, even if inquiry were made, the sender
could not be traced.

"What's in the wind?" I asked Duperre as he sat by my side on our
drive back to Overstow.

"Something, my dear George," he answered, smiling mysteriously. "At
present I can't tell you. In due course you'll know--something big.
Whenever Rudolph superintends in person it is always big. He never
touches minor matters. He devises and arranges them as a general plans
a battle, but he never superintends himself--only in the real big
things. Even then he never acts himself."

With that I was compelled to be satisfied. That night we all had quite
a pleasant evening over bridge in the drawing-room, until just about
ten o'clock Rayne was called to the telephone. When he rejoined us I
noticed that his countenance was a trifle pale. He looked worried and
ill at ease. He sat down beside Madame Duperre, and after pensively
lighting one of his expensive cigars, he bent and whispered something
to her.

By what he said the woman became greatly agitated, and a few moments
later rose and left the room.

The household at Overstow was certainly a strange and incongruous one,
consisting as it did of persons who seemed all in league with each
other, the master-criminal whose shrewd, steel-grey eyes were so
uncanny, and his accomplices and underlings who all profited and grew
fat upon the great _coups_ planned by Rayne's amazing mind. The squire
of Overstow mesmerized his fellows and fascinated his victims of both
sexes. His personality was clear-cut and outstanding. Men and women
who met him for the first time felt that in conversation he held them
by some curious, indescribable influence--held them as long as he
cared, until by his will they were released from a strange thraldom
that was both weird and astounding.

Whatever message Rayne had received it was evidently of paramount
importance, for when Madame Duperre had left the room and Lola had
retired, he turned to me and with a queer look in his eyes, exclaimed:

"I expect you'll have to be making some rather rapid journeys soon,
George. Better be up early to-morrow. Good night." And then dismissing
me, he asked Duperre to go with him to the smoking-room.

"I've heard from Tracy," I overheard him say