trade." He pointed to it.

"I think," he said, "if you wait there it will be more comfortable for you
and equally good for the horse."

The cabby pocketed an interim tip with a grin.

"I've struck it rich to-day," he murmured, as he disappeared through a
swing door bearing the legend, "Tap," in huge letters.

Meanwhile, Brett sauntered past St. John's Mansions. Across the road a man
was leaning against the railings of a large garden, being deeply immersed
in the columns of a sporting paper.

The barrister caught his eye and walked on. A minute later Mr. Winter
overtook him.

"Not a move here all day," he said in disgust, "except Mrs. Jiro's
appearance with the perambulator. She led me all round Kensington Gardens,
and her only business was to air the baby and cram it with sponge-cakes."

"Where is her husband?"

"In the house. He hasn't stirred out since yesterday's visit to the
Museum."

"Who is looking after the place in your absence?"

"One of my men has taken a room over the paper shop opposite. He has
special charge of the Jap. My second assistant is scraping and varnishing
the door of No. 16 flat. He sees every one who enters and leaves the place
during the day. If Mrs. Jiro comes out he has to follow her until he sees
that I am on the job."

"Good! I want to talk matters over with you. I have a cab waiting in a
side street."

"Why, sir, has anything special happened?"

A newsboy came running along shouting the late edition of the _Evening
News_. The barrister bought a paper and rapidly glanced through its
contents.

"Here you are," he said. "Someone in that office has a good memory."

The item which Brett pointed out to the detective read as follows:--

"ACCIDENT IN WHITEHALL.

"Mr. Robert Hume-Frazer, residing in one of the great hotels in
Northumberland Avenue, was knocked down and nearly run over by an
omnibus in Whitehall this morning. The skill of the driver averted
a very serious accident. It is supposed that Mr. Hume-Frazer
slipped whilst attempting to cross before the policeman on duty at
that point stopped the traffic.

"The injured gentleman was carried to his hotel, where he is
staying with his cousin, Mr. David Hume-Frazer, whose name will be
recalled in connection with the famous 'Stowmarket Mystery' of
last year."

"What does it all mean?" inquired Winter.

"It means that you must listen carefully to what I am going to tell you.