been told it
was a matter of more than life and death, I presumed. Letter for
Lieutenant Deland, sir. A gentleman of the name of Narkom--in a
motor, sir--at the door--asked me to deliver it at once and under any
and all circumstances."

Cleek looked at the letter, saw that it was enclosed in a plain
unaddressed envelope, asked to be excused, and stepped out into the
passage with it.

That Narkom should have come for him like this--should have risked
the upsetting of a case by appearing before he knew if it was settled
or, indeed, likely to be--could mean but one thing: that his errand
was one of overwhelming importance, of more moment than anything else
in the world.

He tore off the envelope with hands that shook, and spread open the
sheet of paper it contained.

There was but one single line upon it; but that line, penned in that
hand, would have called him from the world's end.

"_Come to me at once. Ailsa_," he read--and was on his way downstairs
like a shot.

In the lower hall the butler stood, holding his hat and coat ready
for him to jump into them at once.

"My--er--young servant--quick as you can!" said Cleek, grabbing the
hat and hurrying into the coat.

"Already outside, sir--in the motor with the gentleman," the butler
gave back; then opened the door and stepped aside, holding it
back for him and bowing deferentially; and the light of the hall,
streaking out into the night, showed a flight of shallow steps,
the blue limousine at the foot of them--with Lennard in the driver's
seat and Dollops beside him--and standing on the lowest step of
all Mr. Narkom holding open the car's door and looking curiously
pale and solemn.

"What is it? Is she hurt? Has anything happened to her?" Cleek
jumbled the three questions into one unbroken breath as he came
running down the steps and caught at the superintendent's arm.
"Speak up! Don't stand looking at me like a dumb thing! Is anything
wrong with Miss Lorne?"

"Nothing--nothing at all."

"Thank God! Then why? Why? For what reason has she sent for me? Where
is she? Speak up!"

"In town. Waiting for you. At the Mauravanian embassy."

"At the--Good God! How comes she to be _there_?"

"I took her. You told me if anything happened to you that I
thought she ought to know--Please get in and let us be off,
sir--Sire--whichever it ought to be. I don't know the proper form of
address. I've never had any personal dealings with royalty before."

The hand that r