thing?"

"There's a woman in it, I believe; likely two, possibly three!" was the
smiling reply.

"Hump!" said Harleston. "A woman is at the bottom of most things, that's
a fact; she's about the only thing for which a man will betray his
country. However, as they're three men there should be three women--"

"One woman is enough--if she is sufficiently fascinating and plays the
men off against one another. Though you've plenty of women in the case,
Mr. Harleston, if you're looking for the three:--the one whom you're to
meet this afternoon; the unknown who left the Collingwood so
mysteriously; and the one of the photograph. If the other two are as
lovely as she of the photograph they are some trio. I shouldn't care for
the latter lady to tempt me overlong."

"Wise man!" Harleston remarked, as he arose to go. "I'll advise you
after the interview. Meanwhile you might have the cabby look at the
fellow in durance at the Collingwood. Possibly he has seen him before;
which may give us a lead--if we find we want a lead."

The telephone buzzed; Ranleigh answered it--then raised his hand to
Harleston to remain. After a moment, he motioned for Harleston to come
closer and held the receiver so that both could hear.

"I can see you at three o'clock," Ranleigh said.

"Three o'clock will be very nice," came a feminine voice--soft, with a
bit of a drawl.

"Very well," Ranleigh replied. "If you will give me your name--I missed
it. Whom am I to expect at three?"

"Mrs. Winton, of the Burlingame apartments. I'll be punctual--and thank
you so much. Good-bye!"

"Anything familiar about the voice?" Ranleigh asked, pushing back the
instrument.

Harleston shook his head in negation.

"I thought it might be your Lady of Peacock Alley, for it's about the
cab matter. She says that she has something to tell me regarding a
mysterious cab on Eighteenth Street last night sometime about one
o'clock."

"There are quite too many women in this affair," Harleston commented.
"However, the Burlingame is almost directly across the street from where
I found the cab, so her story will be interesting--if it's not a plant."

"And it may be even more interesting if it is a plant," Ranleigh added.
"If you will come in a bit before three, I'll put you where you can see
and hear everything that takes place."

"I'll do it!" said Harleston.

VI

THE GREY-STONE HOUSE

Harleston returned at a quarter to three, and Ranleigh showed him into