money.'

I explained how I had come to hear of Dr. Fortescue-Langley.

Lady Georgina waxed warm. 'Dr. Fortescue-Langley!' she exclaimed. 'The
wicked wretch! But he didn't get my diamonds! I've carried them here in
my hands, all the way from Wiesbaden: I wasn't going to leave them for
a single day to the tender mercies of that unspeakable Gretchen. The
fool would lose them. Well, we'll catch him this time, Lois: and we'll
give him ten years for it!'

'Ten years!' Mrs. Evelegh cried, clasping her hands in horror. 'Oh, Lady
Georgina!'

We waited in Mrs. Evelegh's dining-room, the old lady and I, behind the
folding doors. At three precisely Dr. Fortescue-Langley walked in. I had
difficulty in restraining Lady Georgina from falling upon him
prematurely. He talked a lot of high-flown nonsense to Mrs. Evelegh and
Elsie about the influences of the planets, and the seventy-five
emanations, and the eternal wisdom of the East, and the medical efficacy
of sub-conscious suggestion. Excellent patter, all of it--quite as good
in its way as the diplomatic patter he had poured forth in the train to
Lady Georgina. It was rich in spheres, in elements, in cosmic forces. At
last, as he was discussing the reciprocal action of the inner self upon
the exhalations of the lungs, we pushed back the door and walked calmly
in upon him.

His breath came and went. The exhalations of the lungs showed visible
perturbation. He rose and stared at us. For a second he lost his
composure. Then, as bold as brass, he turned, with a cunning smile, to
Mrs. Evelegh. 'Where on earth did you pick up such acquaintances?' he
inquired, in a well-simulated tone of surprise. 'Yes, Lady Georgina, I
have met you before, I admit; but--it can hardly be agreeable to you to
reflect under what circumstances.'

Lady Georgina was beside herself. 'You dare?' she cried, confronting
him. 'You dare to brazen it out? You miserable sneak! But you can't
bluff me now. I have the police outside.' Which I regret to confess was
a light-hearted fiction.

'The police?' he echoed, drawing back. I could see he was frightened.

I had an inspiration again. 'Take off that moustache!' I said, calmly,
in my most commanding voice.

[Illustration: I THOUGHT IT KINDER TO HIM TO REMOVE IT ALTOGETHER.]

He clapped his hand to it in horror. In his agitation, he managed to
pull it a little bit awry. It looked so absurd, hanging there, all
crooked, that I thought it kinder to him to remove it