anything to do with him. But he is a
card-sharper and a fraudulent company-promoter. He'll borrow money from
any juggins who is ass enough to lend it to him. He haunts Piccadilly,
Bond Street and the Burlington Arcade, and is always smart, and bland,
and fascinating. If he sees a likely victim he makes his acquaintance in
a hundred ways, and then proceeds to fleece him. In a word, Mr. Beecot,
you may put it that Mr. Hay is Captain Hawk, and those he swindles are
pigeons."

Paul was quite startled by this revelation, and it was painful to hear
it of an old school friend. "He does not look like a man of that sort,"
he remonstrated.

"It's not his business to look like a man of that sort," rejoined the
detective. "He masks his batteries. All the same he is one of the most
dangerous men on the market at the present in town. A young peer whom he
plucked two years ago lost everything to him, and got into trouble over
some woman. It was a nasty case and Hay was mixed up in it. The
relatives of the victim--I needn't give his title--asked me to put
things right. I got the young nobleman away, and he is now travelling to
acquire the sense he so sadly needed. I have given Mr. Hay a warning
once or twice, and he knows that he is being watched by us. When he
slips, as he is bound to do, sooner or later, then he'll have to deal
with me. Oh I know how he hunts for clients in fashionable hotels, smart
restaurants, theatres and such-like places. He is clever, and although
he has fleeced several lambs since he plucked the pigeon I saved, he
has, as yet, been too clever to be caught. When I saw you with him, Mr.
Beecot, I thought it just as well to put you on your guard."

"I fear he'll get little out of me," said Paul. "I am too poor."

"You are rich now through your promised wife, and Hay will find it out."

"I repeat that Miss Norman's money has nothing to do with me. And I may
mention that as soon as the case is in your hands, Mr. Hurd--"

"Which it is now," interpolated the detective.

"I intend to marry Miss Norman and then we will travel for a time."

"That's very wise of you. Give Hay a wide berth. Of course, if you meet
him, you needn't tell him what I have told you. But when he tries to
come Captain Hawk over you, be on your guard."

"I shall, and thanks for the warning."

So the two parted. Hurd went away to have the bills printed, and Paul
returned to Gwynne Street to arrange with Sylvia about their early
marriage.