ost unscrupulous, and
the most formidable in the whole of Europe."

"And my dear wife is actually the daughter of the previous leader of
that criminal band!" I exclaimed apprehensively.

"Yes. She escaped with him because she was in fear of her
life--because she knew that if she were again beneath her own father's
protection, you--the man she loved--would also be safe from injury.
For Phil Poland is a strong man, a perfect past-master of the criminal
arts, and a leader whose word was the command of every member of that
great international organization, the wide ramifications of which I
have so long tried in vain to ascertain."

"Then Poland is a noteworthy man in the world of crime?"

"He is a very prince of thieves. Yet, at the same time, one must
regard him with some admiration for his daring and audacity, his
wonderful resourcefulness and his strict adhesion to fair play. For
years he lived in France, Italy and Spain, constantly changing his
place of abode, his identity, his very face, and always evading us;
yet nobody has ever said that he did a mean action towards a poor man.
He certainly suffered an unjust punishment by that false accusation
made against him by the man who was apparently jealous of his
leadership, and who desired to become his successor."

"Then you are of opinion that my wife left me in order to secure my
protection from harm?"

"I am quite certain of it. You recollect my meeting with her at the
Hotel Meurice in Paris. She told me several things on that occasion."

"And Pennington very nearly fell into your hands."

"Yes, but with his usual cleverness he escaped me."

"Where is he now? Have you any idea?" I asked.

"I have no exact knowledge, but, with the arrest of four of his
accomplices, it will not be difficult to find out where he is in
hiding," he laughed.

"And the same may be said of Poland--eh?"

"No; on the contrary, while the man Pennington, alias Du Cane, is
hated--and it will be believed by those arrested that he has betrayed
them in order to save himself--yet Poland is beloved. They know it was
Du Cane who made the false charge connecting Poland with Harriman, and
they will never forgive him. The hatred of the international thief is
the worst and most unrelenting hatred existing in the whole world.
Before Poland came to live in retirement here in England at
Middleton, near Andover, his association consisted only of the most
expert criminals of both sexes, and he contr