he police suspect that
Henfrey is at Shapley, then they'll visit the place and have a decided
haul."

"Why?" asked Hugh in ignorance.

"Nothing. I never discuss other people's private affairs, Mr. Henfrey,"
Howell answered very quietly.

Hugh was surprised at the familiar mention of "Molly," and the
declaration that if the Manor were searched the police would have "a
decided haul."

"This is very interesting," declared The Sparrow. "What did Miss
Ranscomb say in her letter?"

For a second Hugh hesitated; then, drawing it from his pocket, he gave
it to the gloved man to read.

Hugh knew that The Sparrow was withholding certain truths from him, yet
had he not already proved himself his best and only friend? Brock was a
good friend, but unable to assist him.

The Sparrow's strongly marked face changed as he read Dorise's angry
letter.

"H'm!" he grunted. "I will see her. We must discover why she has sent
you this warning. Come back again this evening. But be very careful
where you go in the meantime."

Thus dismissed, Hugh walked along Ellerston Street into Curzon Street
towards Piccadilly, not knowing where to go to spend the intervening
hours.

The instant he had gone, however, The Sparrow turned to his companion,
who said:

"I wonder if Lisette has revealed anything?"

"By Jove!" remarked The Sparrow, for once suddenly perturbed. _"I never
thought of that!"_

TWENTY-SECOND CHAPTER

CLOSING THE NET

"Well--recollect how much the girl knows!" Howell remarked as he stood
before The Sparrow in the latter's room.

"I have not forgotten," said the other. "The whole circumstances of old
Henfrey's death are not known to me. That it was an unfortunate affair
has long ago been proved."

"Yvonne was the culprit, of course," said Howell. "That was apparent
from the first."

"I suppose she was," remarked The Sparrow reflectively. "But that
attempt upon her life puzzles me."

"Who could have greater motive in killing her out of revenge than the
dead man's son?"

"Agreed. But I am convinced that the lad is innocent. Therefore I gave
him our protection."

"I was travelling abroad at the time, you recollect. When I learnt of
the affair through Franklyn about a week afterwards I was amazed. The
loss of Yvonne to us is a serious one."

"Very--I agree. She had done some excellent work--the affair in the Rue
Royale, for instance."

"And the clever ruse by which she got those emeralds of the Roumanian