London. That I happen to know. Well, go to the Bush Hotel, in Farnham,
on Friday afternoon and have tea. She will probably motor there and take
tea with you."

"Will she?" cried Hugh eagerly. "Will you arrange it? You are, indeed, a
good Samaritan!"

The little old man smiled.

"I quite understand that this enforced parting under such circumstances
is most unfortunate for you both," he said. "But I have done, and will
continue to do, all I can in your interest."

"I can't quite make you out, Mr. Peters," said the young man. "Why
should you evince such a paternal interest in me?"

The Sparrow did not at once reply. A strange expression played about his
lips.

"Have I not already answered that question twice?" he asked. "Rest
assured, Mr. Henfrey, that I have your interests very much at heart."

"You have some reason for that, I'm sure."

"Well--yes, I have a reason--a reason which is my own affair." And he
rose to wish his visitor "good-night."

"I'll not forget to let Miss Ranscomb know that you will be at Farnham.
She will, no doubt, manage to get her mother's car for the afternoon,"
he said. "Good-night!" and with his gloved fingers he took the young
man's outstretched hand.

The instant he heard the front door close he crossed to the telephone,
and asking for a number, told the person who answered it to come round
and see him without a moment's delay.

Thus, while Hugh Henfrey was seated beside Mead as Mrs. Bond's car went
swiftly towards Kensington, a thin, rather wiry-looking man of middle
age entered The Sparrow's room.

The latter sprang to his feet quickly at sight of his visitor.

"Ah! Howell! I'm glad you've come. Benton and Molly Maxwell are
deceiving us. They mean mischief!"

The man he addressed as Howell looked aghast.

"Mischief?" he echoed. "In what way?"

"I've not yet arrived at a full conclusion. But we must be on the alert
and ready to act whenever the time is ripe. You know what they did over
that little affair in Marseilles not so very long ago? They'll repeat,
if we're not very careful. That girl of Benton's they are using as a
decoy--and she's a dangerous one."

"For whom?"

"For old Henfrey's son."

The Sparrow's visitor gave vent to a low whistle.

"They intend to get old Henfrey's money?"

"Yes--and they will if we are not very wary," declared the little,
bristly-haired old gentleman known as The Sparrow. "The boy has been
entirely entrapped. They made one _faux pa